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.
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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.
- Mini – Designed with a pointed tip for cutting and trimming in tight, restrictive spaces. Perfect for appliqué, chenille quilting and many craft applications.
- Small – A nice compact size scissor that lends itself to numerous applications requiring detail work. Great for your travel kit.
- Original – Just a great size scissor that can function across many sewing and craft needs.
- Large – Designed for long smooth cuts or to cut multiple layers of fabric with precision. The serrated edge makes even the silkiest fabrics easy to cut.
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 130 – Comfort and precision. The 130’s shorter blades enable precision cuts and trimming in tight spaces
- Bordeaux Ultimate Scissors 170 – The 170’s longer blades are perfect for a wide range of sewing and craft applications.
- Bordeaux Ultimate Shears 200 – The 200 is designed as classic dressmakers shears. The handle is comfortable, either lefty or righty, and the shape of the blades allow them to lie flat on your cutting table as you cut out your patterns.
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.
- 18mm Rotary Cutter – This is the smallest size available. This is the one we want to use in fashion for cutting short radius curves and trimming short seams. It’s a must for appliqué where we’ve got to get into really tight curves, either free hand or using a template.
- 28mm Rotary Cutter – This is the smaller of the mid-size rotary cutters. It’s perfect for fashion or home decor cuts where we’re making medium radius curves, short straight cuts or trimming longer seams. It is also very handy for cutting more “relaxed” appliqué patterns.
- 45mm Rotary Cutter – This is the larger of the mid-size rotary cutters. It has a nice balance of applications between the large and small rotary cutters. If you were to have only one size cutter this would be the one. It is ideally suited for long sweeping curves in fashion and works very well for cutting long strips for most quilting applications. Nothing turns out quilting strips and blocks as fast or precise. It is the true “Jack of All Trades” size.
- 60mm Rotary Cutter – This is the largest size rotary cutter. It is designed specifically for long sweeping or straight strips for fashion, home decor and quilting. Calculating the circumference of this blade will tell you that it will last as much as three times longer than the 18mm blade cutting the same fabric. It’s science. Who knew ? It just makes sense that we should always use the largest blade possible for any job at hand. The economy is undeniable. We also get the best long, smooth and precise cuts.
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
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