Scissors are essential items in your sewing toolbox. You’ll need them for everything from cutting patterns, cutting fabrics, grading or trimming seam allowances, to snipping threads. You’ll want the best tools for the job. You may be asking yourself, what are the best scissors for sewing or what scissors will I need for sewing. Today, I’ll go over the all the best scissors for sewing that you’ll need to make amazing garments.
1. Dressmaking Shears
Dressmaking shears are the primary scissors you’ll want to have for sewing. These are what you’ll use to cut out your fabric. They are different from normal scissors because they have a bent, angled handle. This allows you to cut while your fabric lays flat. If you aren’t cutting flat, you run the risk of your layers of pattern and fabric shifting which will reduce your accuracy. In the entire sewing process you need to be as accurate as possible. Otherwise you run the risk of ending up with a wonky garment after all the time, money, and hard work you put into your sewing project.
Another big difference is that they’re longer and sharper. The most common size is 8” but they usually go up to 12”. They’re designed to be able to smoothly cut through fabric layers in single cuts. You’ll also notice the finger openings are wider so you can fit more of your hand through the opening. This makes it much easier on your hands when you’re doing a lot of cutting. If you’re left handed, you should buy a left handed version to accommodate this. Luckily, it’s easy to find and all the major scissors brands have a left handed version.
It’s so important to keep your scissors sharp so you should only be using them on fabric. You should have a separate pair of scissors for paper and other uses. It’s a good idea to also use dressmaker shears for paper because you’ll want the sharp blades and bent handle for flat cutting when you are working on your patterns. It’s good to cut everything flat as possible and to have smooth, accurate cuts.
As for brands- the most popular brands out there are Kai, Gingher, Wiss, Mundial, Fiskars, and Singer. They all make good quality scissors and it’s really personal preference on which ones you like. Gingher dressmaking shears have a great reputation and many seamstresses swear by them. I personally prefer Kai dressmaking shears. Gingers are heavy and the handles are all metal, so they are not as comfortable to cut with. Kai scissors have a softer handle and they’re super lightweight, while still being super sharp. The hand holes are wider so my hand just fits better. I also personally find the Kai scissors to just cut better overall as well. In my opinion, the best scissors for sewing are Kai Dressmaking Shears. I use the 9 1/2” ones. All my other scissors have been relegated to paper scissors.
2. Embroidery Scissors
After you have your dressmaking shears, the next type of scissors you’ll want in your sewing toolbox are embroidery scissors or nips. Embroidery scissors are smaller scissors that you will use for clipping threads, clipping small areas, and buttonholes. You’ll want a pair that are sharp and have a sharp point. My favorite pair are the Brother blue handled embroidery scissors. They’re super sharp and durable.
You also can use embroidery or thread snips. They’re similar to scissors but they have an even smaller, very sharp blade. They are perfect to get those tiny threads in hard to reach places. They’re even great to use as a seam ripper.
Now this is all you’ll actually need for sewing- dressmaking shears and smaller embroidery scissors. But, there are more scissors that nice to have and will make your sewing easier and faster. I’ll go over those next!
3. Pinking Shears
Pinking shears have a zigzag blade which creates a zigzag ravel free edge of fabric. This is used to create an easy, effective seam finish. It’s not an essential scissor to have because you can use other seam finish options. If you have a serger, you can finish your seams with that and may render your pinking shears obsolete. I usually use my serger and I don’t even use my pinking shears anymore. They are nice to have for cutting swatches to set aside for inspiration or for fashion illustration. That’s primarily what I use mine for.
4. Serrated Shears
Serrated Dressmaking shears have a micro serrated blade that will have a little grip on the fabric as you cut. This is perfect for cutting slippery, fine fabrics like chiffon. These aren’t essential, but it’s nice to have, especially if you frequently sew with slippery, fine fabrics.
5. Rotary Cutter
Rotary cutters are a great cutting tool to have. They’re super sharp and really easy on the hands if you have problems cutting with scissors. You’ll need a cutting mat to protect your blade and cutting surface. These cutting mats can get expensive so this isn’t the most economical option. Plus, it’s more difficult to cut around curves with these. The blade is open and super sharp, so be careful when using these. Olfa is a popular brand, but I primarily use a Fiskars rotary cutter. It’s most important to have a sharp blade and cutter that feels comfortable in your hand.
I primarily cut with dressmaking shears, but I love using my rotary cutter for when I need to cut rectangle strips- such as bindings or interfacing for hems.
6. Duck Bill Applique Scissors
These are another type of scissors that aren’t necessary- but nice to have. These scissors feature a paddle style blade that really comes in handy when you are trimming or grading seam allowance. This style blade pushes the bottom fabric away so you can cut close to the seam line. If you’ve ever accidently cut into your fabric when grading or trimming close- well this style scissor helps prevent that. These scissors aren’t necessary, but I use mine a lot and I really enjoy having them available. I use the Gingher brand and they work great.
7- Electric Scissors
Another alternative cutting tool that I find very intriguing are electric scissors. These are especially easy on the hands because you don’t have to make any cutting motions. The scissors have a shorter blade that is powered by either batteries, electric charging, or cord. They do move quickly so there may be a slight learning curve and you have to be careful cutting around curves or small areas. If you have trouble with your joints, these are a great option to look into.
Final Thoughts
You now have a good grasp on the best scissors for sewing. First, you’ll want to get a pair of dressmaking shears and embroidery scissors. My recommendation for the best are the Kai Dressmaking Shears and Brother Blue Handled Embroidery Scissors. You can’t go wrong with them and I use these two ALL the time while sewing. Then, based on the type of sewing you’ll be doing and your preferences, you may want to add pinking shears, serrated dressmaking shears, and applique scissors to your sewing toolbox. If you are interesting in trying out alternative ways of cutting that are easier on the hands, rotary cutters and electric scissors are a great options to look into.
What are your favorite scissors that you use in your sewing room?