That Fuzzy, Unthreadable Floss? It’s Not You, It’s Your Embroidery Scissors

"Whatever you do, please bring sharp embroidery scissors with you!"

This was my desperate plea to students before they came to my workshops. Did they listen? Oh, you can guess where this is going.

They’d turn up with everything but the right tool. Giant kitchen shears, those chunky dressmaking scissors, kids' paper scissors with the plastic safety blades... you name it, I saw it.

My favourite was a pair so ancient and blunt the blades didn’t even meet anymore. They just chewed the embroidery floss into a sad, fluffy mess.

Trying to do something delicate like Hardanger or cutwork? Forget about it. It was frustratingly impossible.

In that first lesson, I’d sigh, smile, and end up lending my own precious scissors to nearly every single student.

But here’s the magical part: by the next week, they’d all come back with their own shiny, new, and wonderfully sharp pair. They’d discovered the secret.

 

The Frustration Is Real (But It Doesn’t Have to Be)

Have you been there? Staring at the fluffy, chewed-up end of your floss, knowing there’s zero chance of it fitting through the eye of your needle?

It’s enough to make you want to pack it all in. You start thinking, "Maybe I'm just not good at this."

Let me tell you a secret: It’s not your fault. It’s your scissors.

Getting a clean, sharp cut is one of the kindest gifts you can give your stitching self. It’s an immediate win that turns the entire process from a battle into a joy.

So, what should you look for? Ideally, a great pair of embroidery scissors will have short, narrow blades and finger holes that are comfy for your hands.

A Quick Tour of Our Favourite Snippy Friends

Once you start looking, you'll find a whole world of delightful scissors out there. Here are a few you’ll run into:

The Angled Pair (A Hardanger Hero!)

See that top pair in the photo above? Those scissors with the funny angled blades are a revelation for cutwork like Hardanger embroidery. The angle lets you keep your hand level while the blades snip away precisely at the fabric threads. Genius!

The Pretty Pair (Because Why Not?)

And let’s be honest, there’s no rule that says functional tools can’t also be beautiful. The pair at the bottom, with their marbled mauve handles, just makes me happy every time I pick them up.

The Quirky Stork in the Room

Okay, let's talk about the famous stork scissors. Have you ever wondered about their story?

Well, you know the folklore about storks delivering babies? The story might have started with what midwives carried in their medical bags. Back in the day, they used blunt, stork-shaped clamps for the umbilical cord.

And since birthing a baby can take… a while (a very long while in my case!), these midwives often brought their needlework along to pass the time.

Eventually, the medical bag and the needlework bag became one. The stork clamps were fitted with sharp, pointed blades for snipping thread, and a legend was born! The blades became the stork's beak, and the handles its legs.

It’s such a fun piece of stitching history, and it makes me love these quirky tools even more.

What if Tiny Scissors Hate Your Fingers?

If you find the finger holes on traditional embroidery scissors just too small and fiddly, please meet my secret weapon: thread snips.

You don’t use finger holes—you just gently squeeze them.

They’re fantastic for anyone with larger hands or arthritis, and they work perfectly for both right- and left-handed stitchers. Most come with a little safety cap so you don’t accidentally stab yourself rummaging through your project bag.

A little tip from my own experience: you get what you pay for here. I’ve tried the cheap ones, and they go blunt in a flash.

But my Ginghers?

Oh, my Ginghers.

I’ve treasured my pair for years. No one else is allowed to touch them! They are so incredibly sharp that you just have to use them once to understand the obsession. This is a "buy it for life" tool, no question.

And for the travelling stitcher?

A Clover Thread Cutter Pendant is a brilliant little gadget. It’s a sharp circular blade tucked inside an attractive case you can wear like a necklace.

Most airlines are perfectly fine with them, so you can stitch on the go without worry.

The Golden Rule for Happy Scissors

Now that you’ve found the perfect pair, there is one sacred rule:

Do. Not. Use. Them. For. Anything. Else.

Seriously. Cutting paper, wire for stumpwork, or anything that isn't thread will blunt them in a heartbeat. Have a separate "crafty" pair for all that.

And maybe… keep your treasured stitching scissors hidden. I once discovered my husband had found my amazing Hardanger scissors to be very convenient for trimming his beard.

Let’s just say he only made that mistake once.

Our stitching time is supposed to be relaxing, and protecting our favourite tools is all part of the joy!

Stay connected between projects

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No pressure. Just a friendly note now and then to keep you inspired.