Edward Scissorhands had at least eight pair, a number which many houses could rival. Why exactly do we need so many scissors?
Well, the easy answer could be just having a pair everywhere that you need them--the kitchen, craft room, garage, bathroom--anywhere which you might reach for a pair.
But the other, slightly more complicated answer is that you need the right scissors for the job--wherever you may need them.
Here are a few quick things to consider when selecting the right pair of scissors for practially any job.
Scissors for General Use
The most important scissors in most households are the, “grab them when you need them” variety. These are the scissor that older kids can safely use and adults frequently need, the “keep in every room” kind.
For general use scissors, look for:
● Sharpness--these scissors should be able to do anything from open packages to cutting ribbon.
● Soft handles--a comfortable handle is nice, but for longer projects it is a necessity, that way you have no pinching, slipping or discomfort with use.
● Smooth joint--a tight, yet smooth joint allows for frequent use without discomfort.
● Quality blades--in addition to being sharp initially, stainless steel quality blades will retain sharpness, glide smoothly, and clean up easily after messy crafts.
Since these scissors get the most use, it is also important to get them at a reasonable price and in high enough quantity. A size from 5.5” to 8.5” is a good size for general use in home, office, laundry room, craft room, garage and more.
Scissors for Sewing
While general scissors are excellent for crafting, cutting yard, snipping pipe cleaners, cutting cardboard and more, if you do traditional sewing or quilting, you’ll need a few other specific types of scissors in your sewing kit.
The primary sewing scissors include:
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A dedicated pair of fabric scissors - Fabric scissors should never be used for anything else, so that you do not risk damaging the blades in a way that would pull fabric. Consider a longer blade, such as the 8.5” blade, with a flatter bottom edge for straighter cuts.
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A pair of very small or embroidery scissors - Cutting threads, lace and other smaller details of sewing should not be done with your dedicated fabric scissors. Have a pair of .5” or smaller scissors at hand to use for these little snips.
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A pair of pinking shears - While the zig-zag edge of pinking shears can also be done as a decoration, their sewing purpose is to create edges that will not fray as easily. Have a dedicated sewing pair of pinking shears if you regularly sew.
The other two sharp/cutting objects to include in a pro sewing kit are a seam ripper (everyone makes mistakes!) and a rotary cutter (for cutting quilting pieces).
Pro Tip: The best protection for your sewing scissors is to make sure that you have plenty of other scissors--when someone reaches to cut yarn or a box with your fabric scissors, it’s often because those were the only scissors they could find! Label your sewing scissors and stock up on general use scissors.
Working with Young Kids
Most children will be responsible with scissors, after a certain age.
For preschool-age children, though, consider starting with plastic safety scissors which cannot cut hair or fabric (or your furniture!).
At the elementary school age, a round tip is generally sufficient safety protection.
OfficeGoods Provides the Best
At OfficeGoods we have the best general use scissors, with the superior customer service to back your purchase.
Here are a few quick things to consider when selecting the right pair of scissors for practically any job.
Our great products at an excellent price means you can stock up on the right scissors for any job!