8 Best Sewing Scissors For Every Project

Having a pair of the best sewing scissors can totally transform your creation into a work of art.

If you’ve experienced the trauma of hacking away at a piece of fabric with a pair of kitchen scissors you’ll appreciate that a good sewing scissor set can be a game changer.

A pair of high quality, effective fabric scissors is an important purchase for any sewer’s toolkit.

Scissors that don’t cut fabric well can lead to costly mistakes, so it’s well worth investing in the best to help you cut down on time and money and perfect your sewing creations.

In this guide we’re going to take at your best options, including:

• The best tailoring scissors
• The best dressmaking scissors
• The best scissors for cutting various types of fabrics

Here’s a preview of our top picks:

Now let’s get in to the detail!

The Best Sewing Scissors

There are a huge number of sewing scissors on the market, but not all are fit for purpose.

We’ve rounded up the best sewing scissors available right now, in four different categories: all-round use, dressmaking use, small scissors and sewing scissors set.

Let’s start with the all-rounders…

Best All-Round Sewing Scissors

These all-round scissors sets are great for working with a variety of fabrics including denim, leather and tough garments. They are multi-purpose and likely to come in useful for a variety of projects.

Fiskars 8 Inch Razor-Edge Soft Grip Scissors

These sewing scissors certainly live up to their name of ‘razor edge’ — they’re so sharp that they can cut through multiple layers of heavyweight fabric with no problem at all.

But while they’re definitely heavy duty, there’s been no compromise in making them as comfortable as possible.

The softgrip handle requires exactly that — a soft grip — and it’s certainly easy to use these sewing scissors over the course of a day without fatiguing.

Plus, they’ve got a lifetime warranty attached to them — no wonder why they’re so many sewers’ pick for the best sewing scissors!

Pros

• Razor sharp blades that can cut through multiple layer
• Durable, stainless steel blades
• Softgrip handle for easy comfort
• Lifetime warranty
• Handle allows for plenty of control
• Bent handle design keeps materials flat — ensuring more precise cuts
• Feel sturdy
• Affordable

Cons

• Not so comfortable for left-handed sewers
• Reasonably heavy compared to other professional sewing scissors

Singer 8.5 Inch Professional Series Scissors

Famous brand Singer have created these extremely tough professional sewing scissors.

The heavy-duty design includes super sharp tempered steel blades which are exceedingly durable and excellent when it comes to giving a clean, accurate cut.

These sewing scissors can slice through several layers of fabric at a time — they boast that they can take on a whopping 18 layers of denim! They are great for pattern cutting, and the handle is designed with maximum comfort in mind. Perfect for sewers suffering with weak wrists.

As we’ve come to expect from Singer, you can expect a high quality product at an accessible and reasonable price.

Pros

• Can be used left or right handed
• Good for sewers with weak or arthritic hands
• Lightweight and very sharp
• Soft, padded handles are very comfortable
• Very effective at cutting through tough fabrics
• Very affordable price

Cons

• Movement can sometimes be a little tight

CCR Titanium and Stainless Steel Heavy Duty Professional Shears

Beautiful enough to grace any sewing table, these gold heavy duty scissors feature solid stainless steel blades and zinc alloy handles.

These professional sewing scissors are supremely comfortable to use while being more than effective on all your fabrics. And at 10.5 inches, they’re the perfect length for all but the most intricate sewing projects.

They slice through even the thickest and most layered dressmaking fabrics such as leather and upholstery fabrics. The size and weight make them easy to use over long periods of time.

Pros

• Professional quality
• Cut is sharp and smooth
• Attractive color and design
• Powerful and tough: incredibly durable
• Length of blades is good for cutting long sections of material
• Comfortable ergonomic handles

Cons

• The blades are so sharp that care must be taken when cutting

Best Dressmaking Scissors

Dressmaking scissors are a type of scissors specifically made for cutting fabrics. They are used in sewing and tailoring to cut out fabric pieces. Dressmaking scissors have a shorter blade than embroidery scissors, which makes it easier to get within the crinkles of fabrics.

Gingher 8″ Knife Edge Dressmaker’s Shears

Gingher have a reputation for quality, which certainly shines through with this pair of sewing scissors. These are some of the most popular dressmaker’s shears on the market — despite their comparatively high price.

Elegant gold handles are bent for greater comfort and permit effortless clean cutting on a horizontal surface.

The long, powerful blades give a crisp cut – even through numerous layers of fabric.

Their 8-inch length allows enough room for cutting patterns and seams while their light weight ensures that your wrists won’t be getting tired too quickly.

Pros

• Professional quality from a heritage name
• Durable – great long term investment
• Effective on all types of fabric
• Very precise even on multiple layers
• Very sharp and chrome plated
• Blades re-sharpen well
• Attractive design

Cons

• Expensive
• A little heavy

Handi Stitch 11″ Tailor Dressmaking Scissors

Handi Stitch are another popular brand for dressmakers and these 11″ stainless steel shears are some of the best on the market.

Razor sharp and able to tackle multiple layers, these are the professional sewing scissors you’ve been dreaming of. They deliver incredibly precise cuts but never at the cost of comfort. These bad boys sport an ergonomic design that’s lightweight and comfortable.

11 inches long, these sewing scissors are great for cutting large swathes of material.

They also come with a handy 100% money back guarantee if you’re not happy with your purchase.

Pros

• Lightweight and comfortable to use
• Razor sharp and can take on multiple fabrics and layers at once
• Durable and comes with a guarantee
• The whole length of the blades are consistently sharp
• Cuts through the most heavyweight materials like butter
• Precise and accurate cuts
• Very affordable

Cons

• Not so comfortable for left handers

P.LOTOR 9.3 Inch Professional Pinking Shears

The only pair of pinking shears on our list, the cute design of these popular P.LOTR sewing scissors is durable enough for everyday use for sewing, dressmaking and a variety of other crafts.

The super sharp stainless steel blades cut smoothly and give a crisp zigzag edge to fabrics.

Ergonomic plastic handles lend a soft feel to these professional sewing scissors, which is easy on the fingers, and the fact that the shears are lightweight means you have greater control over your cut.

Control and precision are even better thanks to the ingenious ball bearing joint at the top of the blades.

Pros

• Can be used right or left handed
• Blades are durable and stay sharp
• Comfortable to use thanks to the ergonomic handles
• Easily to manipulate, meaning precise and accurate cuts every time
• Cut through a wide variety of fabrics, including denim

Cons

• The back part of the blade cuts less well than the rest of the blade
• Can be tough to open and close these sewing scissors

Best Small Tailor Scissors

Tailor scissors are a smaller variant of dressmaking scissors. They range from 3-8 inches in length and are used by tailors, seamstresses, and other people who work with fabrics often to cut notches, collars, pleats, pockets, cuffs and buttonholes.

2PC Stork Shape Gold Plated Tailoring Scissors

If you’re looking for a real show-stopping pair of sewing scissors, then this beautiful set from Acronde could be for you.

These pretty mini sewing scissors can be used for embroidery and crewelwork plus a host of other sewing tasks and crafts.

Being so small (their total length is around 4″) they can be easily tucked into a small sewing bag or even purse when travelling. The design is light and elegant and the stainless steel blades are well pointed and sharp.

We also think they’d make a wonderful gift for the sewing aficionado in your life.

Pros

• Comfortable on the fingers
• Attractive, retro style
• Robust construction and durable
• Portable and lightweight
• Good quality considering their low price

Cons

• Blades are sometimes too thick to make a precise cut when trimming thread
• Better fitted to smaller fingers

Gingher 4 Inch Embroidery Scissors

We’re back with the indomitable Gingher brand for these brilliant small sewing scissors.

Perfectly designed for embroidery and cutting thread, these sewing trimming scissors are a real must-have for your sewing box.

The blades are lightweight and easy to control, yet incredibly durable thanks to the double-plated chrome over nickel finish. They’re protected further by the included leather sheath, where you can store them when they’re not in use.

4 inches long, the tips are narrow enough to navigate into any small crevice or fabric area to trim.

Pros

• Professional quality
• Sharp, narrow and easy to control
• Lightweight (just 4 ounces!)
• Comes with a leather sheath to protect blades
• Durable and sturdy
• Small and portable

Cons

• At the more expensive end of the sewing scissors scale

Fiskars 5 Inch Non-Stick Titanium Detail Scissors

You can expect comfort from these excellent Fiskars mini detail scissors, that are blessed with the same Softgrip handles as their larger products. Plus, they’re perfect for both left and right handers!

Sharp and easy to control, the blades are made from stainless steel and enhanced with super strong titanium for the ultimate in durability.

Cuts are always precise, thanks to the unique non-stick quality of the blades too. This ensures you can cut through the stickiest of fabrics with no problem at all.

Pros

• Enhanced titanium blades for incredible durability
• Softgrip handle is comfortable and easy to control
• Great for left and right handers
• Good at cutting tight corners and little snips
• Non-stick blade coating for precise cuts
• Thumb hole has extra padding for comfort
• Low cost

Cons

• Better fitted to people with smaller fingers

Best Sewing Scissors Set

If you’re looking to pad out your sewing kit with a variety of fabric scissors for different projects, you may want to invest in a sewing scissors set. These combine multiple shears in to a useful starter bundle.

Singer ProSeries Sewing Scissor Bundle

The Singer ProSeries scissor bundle contains everything you need to get started with your first craft project.

It includes the 8.5″ ProSeries Heavy Duty Bent Fabric Shears, 4.5″ ProSeries Detail Scissors and 5″ ProSeries Thread Snips. With all three shears at your disposal, you’ll be able to work with just about any fabric in as much or as little detail as you want.

The handles have a nice comfort grip and they can be used as either left-handed or right-handed scissors.

Pros

• High quality scissors with a comfortable grip
• Smooth and precise cuts – very impressive
• Set covers a wide array of project needs
• Great for both left or right handers

Cons

• Slightly on the pricy side

Singer Sewing and Craft Scissors Set

We’re back with old favorite Singer with this cheap and high quality sewing scissors set.

It includes two pairs: an 8.5 inch lightweight fabric shears and a 4.5 inch detail scissor for more detailed embroidery and trimming work.

Both sewing scissors have rubber grips handles to maximize comfort and minimize fatigue in the hands and wrists.

They’re made of stainless steel and are admirably durable.

Pros

• Made from ultra durable stainless steel
• Lightweight and portable
• Rubber grip handles are easy to manipulate and comfortable to use
• Red and white color scheme is subtle and attractive
• Works great for both right and left handers
• Sharp and precise cuts on a variety of materials

Cons

• Only two pairs in a pack
• Not as adept at taking on multiple layers as more professional sewing scissors

3PC Clear Cuts Precision Cutting Scissors

This versatile 3 scissor pack includes 10″ Dressmaking Scissors, 9.5″ Craft Scissors, and 5.5″ Embroidery Scissors.

All three pairs of sewing scissors feature bonded titanium blades with precision edges, making them lightweight and easy to handle as well as extremely hardwearing. All three pairs come with comfortable soft grip handles.

This is one of the most popular sewing scissors sets on the market — thanks to both its quality and low price.

Pros

• Affordable
• Excellent quality considering low price
• Cuts cleanly and precisely
• Comfortable to use thanks to soft grip ergonomic handles
• Large blade size ensures scissors are great for cutting large swathes
• Sharp and reasonably precise
• Lightweight

Cons

• Handles have been known to break if presented with too many layers
• Blade tips are dull compared to professional sewing scissors

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What Are Sewing Scissors Used for?

Sewing scissors are so much more than just a cutting tool.

Modern technology has changed the humble sewing scissor into an exciting piece of kit with different models specifically designed for high performance with different materials and tasks.

Dressmaker’s shears are a must have when you need to cut fabric for making clothes or larger items. The long, sharp blades cut at an angle which makes them much more effective than ordinary scissors. One of the blades is rounded to prevent snagging and the other is pointed which makes accurate snipping a cinch.

Dressmaker’s scissors are strong and sturdy to cut through even the thickest of fabrics – or even multiple layers of fabric. The longer length is ideal for pattern cutting and seam trimming, and unlike standard scissors they give clean, crisp lines and not jagged uneven edges.

Sometimes a smaller pair of scissors is called for. Commonly known as tailor’s scissors, the shorter blades and lighter weight make these ideal for smaller tasks and craft projects like quilting. Though slightly smaller, these scissors are still very strong and a quality pair will cut through fabric like butter. The smaller size also makes them more portable and they will fit easily into a sewing bag.

In addition there are a wide range of other scissors for more specific tasks.

Embroidery scissors are tiny with very sharp tips to the blades, meaning they can get to and cut those tricky to reach spaces. They’re perfect for snipping threads, so they also make a great pair of sewing machine scissors.

Applique scissors are also small, and they come equipped with a curved blade that easily slips between layers of fabric when cutting appliques or trimming seams to ensure you are cutting the right layer in exactly the right place.

What Makes a Good Pair of Sewing Scissors?

A good pair of professional sewing scissors will be able to easily handle a wide and varied range of fabrics, including denim, silks and satins, felt, PU, and even leathers.

They are an essential part of any starter sewing kit.

When using sewing scissors comfort is important, so the scissor handles should be as rounded and ergonomic as possible to fit easily into your hand without rubbing or pinching. Some models feature padding on the handles for extra comfort.

Always choose the right sized handles for your hand size.

Blade quality is also key. High grade metals and production methods result in sharper, stronger, and more durable blades that give a precision cut.

If you suffer from arthritis or your hands aren’t particularly strong, look for a lightweight pair of sewing scissors made from titanium (a lighter metal than steel) or with plastic handles in order to put less strain on your hands and wrists.

A good pair of quality sewing scissors will last you a lifetime, so while they may seem expensive, consider them a long term investment.

What’s your favorite pair?