Cutting Tools ~ Sewing

When it comes to cutting your fabric, there are several different cutting tools to help make your cutting job easier. If you don’t sew a lot, then you might not need them all, but if you plan on sewing a lot, then these tools will not only help to save you time, but they’ll also help to make things a lot easier for you.

No matter what cutting tools you use, the most important quality to look for is the sharpness of the tools. You might get away with using dull scissors in your kitchen or office, but when it comes to sewing, you need a high-quality cutting edge that will not distort or fray the fabric. The last thing you want is to ruin your beautiful fabric or worse: an almost complete sewing project. In other words, don’t use your kitchen scissors for your sewing needs. Sewing stores carry special scissors designed for fabric materials that will help to keep your sewing projects professional.

Below is a short list of some of the available cutting tools that you can purchase to make your life easier.

Bent-handled dressmaker’s shears

Bent-handled dressmaker’s shears have a bent handle, hence the name, which puts the lower blade at an angle and allows the fabric to lie flat on the cutting surface while cutting. These shears come in different lengths of 7″-12″, with the shorter ones being the most popular. I’ve never worked with one of these, but I can see how they can help make the cutting job a lot easier, especially when cutting out larger projects. If you’re not careful, the fabric will try to move on you when cutting, and these shears can help to prevent that.

Pinking Shears or Scalloping Shears

These shears will cut a zigzag or scalloped edge that will prevent the cut edge from raveling. These are great to finish seams or raw edges on various fabrics.

Rotary Cutter

A rotary cutter works similarly to a pizza cutter, with a retractable blade for safety. It should always be used with a mat in order to protect the blade and the cutting surface. Also, be sure to always retract the blade after use, as one drop to the floor can ruin it, making it unusable.

Sewing Scissors

Sewing scissors are normally pointed on one blade and rounded on the other, which makes them great for clipping seams and facings. These blades usually measure about 6″ in length.

Seam Ripper

A seam ripper is great for opening seams and buttonholes. Be careful when using the seam ripper so that you don’t pierce or damage the fabric. Also, be careful that you don’t prick yourself, as they are sharp.