Clover Needlecraft

Tool School: Shears & Cutters

As with any creative endeavor, having the right tools makes all of the difference. For sewers and crafters that means having the best scissors and shears or rotary cutters at the ready to handle any task.

Watch Tool School here: 

And read our product overview below. 


What is it?

Everything we do in sewing starts with cutting larger pieces of fabric into smaller pieces of fabric, before we can reassemble them again into larger pieces of fabric fitting our creative design. Fashion, quilting, heirloom, home décor and crafts, it all starts with the cut. And the more precise the cut, the more precise our finished project will be and by extension, the happier we are with what we’ve accomplished. So what do we use to make these all important cuts? Scissors and rotary cutters of course. 

Two entirely different tools that make precise cuts in two very different ways even though we often try to use them interchangeably. FYI, there’s always a best tool. Scissors have been around so long it’s hard to imagine doing anything in sewing, knitting or crafts without them. They’re one of the most common tools used universally by us humans. In high-quality scissors the blades are extremely sharp and are positioned to increase the cutting and shearing tension at the exact point where the blades meet and the fabric is cleanly cut. Rotary cutters, on the other hand, are a true renaissance tool, a comparative newcomer. They are easy to hold, are extremely sharp, can effortlessly cut multiple layers of fabric, are adept at following lines and templates and cut so cleanly on flat laying fabric that little or no distortion or fraying results.

Photo courtesy of For the Love of Scissors by Dori Troutman


What do they do?

As with any creative endeavor, having the right tools makes all of the difference. For sewers and crafters that means having the best scissors and shears or rotary cutters at the ready to handle any task. There’s no question that while a good pair of high quality dressmaker shears might be suitable for most fabric cutting tasks or a sharp 60mm rotary blade might be perfect for those long quilting strips, there are many applications and materials that have special requirements. To meet these specific needs, we have produced a matching variety of cutting tools.

Patchwork Scissors

These are quality cutting tools with sharp blades aligned to ensure precision cuts. There or four styles designed to accommodate specific requirements.

Patchwork Scissors
Art. No 493/CW – 493/L 

Bordeaux Ultimate Scissors

These are the absolute ultimate scissors and shears.  Constructed with both unique materials and manufacturing processes, this line of scissors and shears are the “go to” tools when precision and durability are desired. Additionally, the handles are both comfortable and ambidextrous. If you want the best, this is it!

Bordeaux Ultimate Scissors & Shears
Art. No 4940-4942

Rotary Cutters

Specialty blades sharpened at a proprietary angle presents and uncommonly sharp and durable blade provided in four sizes to meet the most demanding applications.

Rotary Cutters
Art. No 7500-7503


How do I share it?

An individual’s selection of that “favorite” set of scissors or rotary cutters is, and should be, a very personal matter. The very best way to pick your set of either or both is to put them to task. Set out representative assortments of scissors and rotary cutters along with several types of fabric and allow everyone to test them all. The quality will be immediately obvious to anyone who is currently just getting by with economy based or mediocre cutting tools. They will definitely fall in love the feel and performance of quality blades.

Photo courtesy of For the Love of Scissors by Dori Troutman


Watch Tool School here: 

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