Sharp embroidery scissors are one of the best gifts you can give yourself

A few of the embroidery scissors in my collection

"Bring sharp embroidery scissors with you!" I would implore my students before they attended my offline classes.

Did they listen to my plea? Sadly not!

They turned up with large dressmaking or kitchen shears, children's safety paper scissors, pairs with blades that no longer met or were so blunt they chewed the thread rather than cutting it cleanly.

When a new group of students signed up I ended up including the cost of a good pair in the overall fee and handed them out on the first lesson.

What are embroidery scissors used for?

You're happily stitching away when you suddenly realise the needle has become unthreaded. You take the ends of your thread and try to push them back through the eye. But if you have more than one strand they are rarely the same length any more. They may have fluffed up from repeatedly entering and leaving the fabric. Grrrr! A quick snip close to the shortest end and you stop struggling.

Pick up the wrong pair of scissors and it's like taking a garden spade to your dinner.

This isn't the only time you need a sharp, fine pointed pair of embroidery scissors. They come into their own when…

• Cutting a length from the skein or ball
• Snipping the ends after fastening off
• Cutting fabric threads for Hardanger or cutwork

How to choose a pair

As someone new to embroidery how do you know what makes a good pair? Remember my students' hodgepodge? Scissors come in all sizes and shapes. Oh and prices!

So are the more expensive pairs the best, or can you get away with those tiny ones tucked inside a mending kit? Did you see me raise my eyebrows at that thought? If they cut at all, your fingers will scream for holes that are big enough for them to squeeze through.

Above all, they need to be sharp. They also need fine blades as you will often find yourself in tight spaces where you still need to be sure you are cutting the correct threads, otherwise you could undo a lot of time-consuming work.

Okay so, that rules out the cheap ones, but what makes the pricey ones better?

Firstly, they will stay sharp longer, they are less likely to fall apart and they are more comfortable to hold. They might also look more attractive and that matters more than you might think. You'll enjoy using them more and defend them against other family members at all costs, especially if they want to use them on PAPER!

Types of embroidery scissors

If you are doing cross stitch, blackwork or freestyle embroidery you are all set with your basic, but good quality, embroidery scissors.

But not all scissor blades are the same. Some are as thin as tweezers, others are curved or angled.

These all have different purposes and you may never need them. But if you do, you will find they make life much easier.

Let's start with those curved blades. Mine were sold for cutting fingernails, not thread. But they are handy for cutting curved appliqué shapes or cutting ends close to the fabric. Real appliqué scissors often have a semi-circular flange, often called a duck bill edge. I have a pair but find them tricky to control.

The tweezer-like points I find useful were marketed for decoupage, which is a papercraft. Their preciseness makes it super easy to see where the tips are when cutting fabric threads.

But if you are likely to do this often those angled blades were designed exactly for this purpose. They are sold as Hardanger scissors and offer precision while preventing your knuckles from hitting the work surface as you cut.

Read why embroidery scissors are shaped like storks

Embroidery Snips

As the years go by you may find small scissors harder to manipulate, or the finger holes too tight for swollen digits. There is an alternative option, which is easier to pick up and use. Thread snips, which could be described as scissors without finger holes.

With scissors we open them and then close to cut the thread. Snips are already open, and you just squeeze to cut the thread. Some, like my precious Ginghers, have a cover which you can slip on after squeezing them, to protect the tips.

A real benefit is that you can use them in either hand. I also find them quicker to pick up and use as I don't have to get my fingers in position first.

Embroidery snips with my precious Ginghers at the top!

Looking After Your Scissors

The golden rule for keeping your embroidery scissors sharp is to not use them for anything else. Paper, as I mentioned above, can dull scissors so quickly, so avoid it.

I also prefer to use dressmaking shears if I am cutting a piece of fabric or canvas for a project. Canvas especially, because its coarseness can damage the delicate blades.

If you share a home it may be sensible to keep your precious scissors away in a drawer or box so they are not visible when the family has a need for scissors and glances around for the first pair their eyes land on. If they use them once they may seek them out in the future. I discovered that my husband found my Hardanger scissors very useful when trimming his beard. Only once, that I was ever aware of!

Keep Exploring

More to help you kit out your sewing box