Rotary Cutters vs. Scissors

Many people think scissors should be used for sewing and rotary cutters should be used for quilting. Ashley Hough explains why that doesn’t always have to be the case.

Scissors and Snips

Depending on how you learned to sew, you may have simply adopted whichever tool your teacher used as your go-to tool without learning about other options. Ashley goes over a few types of scissors and snips, which are some of the essential sewing tools and supplies, and explains how they differ. Large shears with long blades are typically used to cut fabric, while scissors with shorter blades are generally used to cut thread. Small thread scissors are sometimes referred to as snips, since they are what you use to snip small threads and the beginning and end of seams.

Ashley shows that snips can also come in spring-loaded varieties, which can make them much quicker and easier to use. She also explains when it can be beneficial to use small scissors that have a slight curve to the blade. While the snips are the only pair of spring-loaded scissors Ashley shows, they do make scissors of all sizes in this option, and are perfect to use if you experience hand discomfort when cutting.

Rotary Cutter

Ashley then goes over several popular rotary cutter sizes. To learn more about other rotary cutter options you can view more videos on sewing tools. The two sizes of rotary cutters she shows are what she considers the most common size used for both sewing and quilting as well as a smaller size that can be used for more intricate cuts. Ashley explains that the smaller blade is much easier to maneuver around curved cuts than the larger blade and gives you a much smoother cut than using standard scissors. She explains that while you may have learned to sew using only scissors, rotary cutters are a great investment for any sewing room.