Seven Essential Cutting Tools

In this video, Suzy discusses the elements of your main fabric scissors that make them comfortable and what to look for when buying good fabric shears. You will also learn about trimming scissors, also known as snips, which are used for clipping threads and making small cuts.

Avoid excessively dulling your good fabric shears by keeping a set of paper scissors in your sewing room for when you need to cut pattern paper or other paper products. Suzy also discusses pinking shears, which she uses primarily to minimize fraying on fabrics such as slippery lining fabrics. You will also learn a few useful tips for using pinking shears.

Serrated scissors are useful when cutting drapey fabrics such as chiffon, charmeuse, rayon, and various lining fabrics. The serrated edge helps grip slippery fabrics during cutting to get accurate cuts. Rotary cutters also work especially well when cutting drapey fabrics because you don’t need to put the bottom blade of scissors underneath the fabric, which lifts it up off the cutting mat. Depending on what types of projects you find yourself doing most, a rotary cutter can work well for many types of cuts.

Suzy recommends using a chisel for opening up buttonholes because it eliminates any possibility of accidentally cutting the buttonhole threads. If you create many garments with buttonholes, investing in a chisel to have in your sewing room is highly recommended.

For more on sewing tools, check out these videos:
Favorite Sewing Tool: Stiletto
Top Sewing Tools
Essential Sewing Tools and Supplies