My Favorite Gear- Scissors
I try very hard to not buy what I don’t need (and it’s actually mind-boggling to really stop and consider what I DON’T need). But sometimes, in some cases, I must admit that I love gear. Gear I’m describing here as gear in my sewing room- all the bits and tools that make my life a little bit easier. Not necessarily the gadget-y stuff, but tools that I not only enjoy using, but that I find are inspiring and pretty to use.
So let me rephrase that, I love pretty, well-made gear!
Let’s talk about my scissor collection for a minute. What you see here is only about two thirds of what I actually have (at the time of my photo a certain 16 year old may have had a few pairs in her room). Those large silver Gingher are pure luxury, they were the first pair of professional scissors I used at my first job in the apparel industry. They cut through anything, are shiny and serious-looking, and cut like a dream. But they are heavy, so I often only use them for cutting out apparel fabrics during those rare times I make clothes for myself. I much prefer using my Fiskars spring-handled scissors for studio cutting that can’t be done with a rotary cutter (and that’s a whole other conversation). They don’t fatigue my hands and lock closed when not in use so they don’t accidentally cut fabrics on my table (like, oh I don’t know, the wedding dress I’m carefully cutting into for the book).
But its the tiny snippers and embroidery scissors that have my heart. I can’t get enough of them! Little ones shaped like the Eiffel Tower, cranes, ones that fold up, Japanese snips- you name it, I love them all. I have them scattered around the house. There’s usually a pair hanging around my neck. There’s always a pair at my sewing machine. They just make me happy!
My favorite ones:
Kai 8″ dressmaking shears
Japanese thread snips
Fiskars 8″ easy action scissors
The iconic stork scissors for handwork.
Japanese Bonsai scissors
And the Gingher dressmaker shears that I used when I was in apparel design
What about you? Do you have favorite scissors?
Erin Harris
September 7, 2015 at 5:12 amI’m in love with my Ginghers. I have 2 pairs of shears, 1 pinking and 2 pairs of embroidery (the stork and the regular). I cannot get enough of them! They are what I grab over and over. I would like some little Japanese snips like yours, though. Those intrigue me!
Blair Stocker
September 7, 2015 at 2:58 pmEvery time I see an new pair of embroidery scissors in a shape I don’t have, I usually buy them. I’m a sucker for those little scissors!
Dawn Andrews
September 14, 2015 at 6:57 pmI thought I was the only one who had a thing for scissors. I LOVE really good scissors. Ginghers in all sizes are my favorite.
Blair Stocker
September 14, 2015 at 7:24 pmI’m beginning to think there are lots of us! 😀