Fancy scissors

[Angel]

So I've seen these beautiful embroidery scissors for sale and I know that people do buy them as the ladies in my club do have them. But why? I've got a really simple set and they've already gone blunt. Forking out for gold handles scissors fashioned in the shape of birds...pretty, but they'll go blunt just as fast and then I've spent like twice the coinage on something that doesn't even last a year. Am I missing something completely here?

[~threadbear~]

Glad you asked this Angel as I've wondered about scissors as well. I have a tiny pair of these chunky scissors that a friend gave to me free and so far they've done what I need, so I wondered why people use speciality scissors and what benefit it was over using just an ordinary pair. Or is it, like you say, just looks?

[Angel]

I use a pair of orange handled small scissors, nothing to look at really, but I do like the really pretty ones. My curiosity has finally got the better of me Glad I'm not the only one though.

[~threadbear~]

Def not, I've been curious as well.

I'm just going to add a picture to this post of the ones I use, if I can find hubbys camera.

Scissors

Scissors with bobbin for size comparision

I've just realised what the little bluey dots are in the picture, it's a reflection of the laptop lights!

[crazycat]

i have a pair of these special scissors. i got mine from the local market for £3 i wouldnt have got them if the had been the£7-8 i have seen them at i find them easier to snip thread with than normal scissors. that said i have tiny childlike hands

[SusanF]

I don't have any either, but I guess it's just to have something nice to work with. It wouldn't be at the top of my list of things I need to get though.

[RosemaryH]

I always used any old scissors and would bever have thought to buy special ones for my stitching. However, my eldest daughter bought me the stork ones as part of a Christmas present and now I would not use anything else. I think that it is the fineness of the blades that make them so lovely to use. Have no idea of their price so cannot say whether I would be prepared to invest in a pair but know that I love mine.

Rosemary

[Jilly]

I treated myself to a pair of these
http://www.johnsoncrafts.co.uk/exec/c/p ... /HSSH1123G" target="_blank
Fantastic scissors! but before that I had a very nice pair of manicure scissors, they had a very fine tapered curved blade that got very close to the fabric without feeling like I was about to stab a hole in my work.
Whatever you decide, try them out first if at all possible, not all scissors feel nice to work with, I have noticed that the stork scissors seem to have copycat ones out there, they are far cheaper than my first pair from many years ago, but they feel stiff and feel clumsy to use.

[Dazbo666]

I've been considering getting a similar pair of scissors myself (particularly after a lengthy 'ing session on my dolphin project) but I'm not sure if I'd be willing to pay £8+ . Are they really worth the expense??

[RosemaryH]

I've been considering getting a similar pair of scissors myself (particularly after a lengthy 'ing session on my dolphin project) but I'm not sure if I'd be willing to pay £8+ . Are they really worth the expense??

Personally I would say that they are well worth it and if I lost mine I think that I would definitely replace them.

Rosemary

[Jilly]

I actually got mine from here, much cheaper
http://www.stitchdirect.com/shopWebSite ... ?plu=SS116" target="_blank

[crazycat]

you can get the stork ones from black sheep for 4.99

[Serinde]

I wouldn't be without a good pair of scissors, only used for embroidery. Paper is death to blades!

I have had a pair of 'stork' scissors for many years, and they have retained their edge. Excellent for snipping threads, and I've even been known to cut fabric with them (does take a while!! ).

My other pair are total control scissors, that I use for cutting in hardanger. Even my storks aren't as sharp (all the way to the tip) and fine as these: http://www.stitchdirect.com/shopWebSite ... ?plu=JN004" target="_blank

[SusanF]

These are scary looking scissors Serinde

[Rachael]

I am one who has numerous pairs of these scissors, When I first started stitching I had just a pair of normal scissors, but the the rest of the family would use them to cut sticky paper, their toe nails and allsorts ,so I bought a pair of stork scissors which screamed 'MUM'S KEEP YOUR MITTS OFF' and they know not to touch them, I have since bought a purple pair of Dinky dyes, a marblised(sp) pair of storks and I have a couple of gold/silver as well, Mostly because I tend to put them somewhere and then I can't find them and they all have a lovely beaded fob on them . I did get some basic scissors for the family as well so they have no excuse
Plus I do a bit of Hardanger and you can't use any old blunt scissors to cut work .
But I have to stop myself buying more as that would then become another addiction to add to the list!!

[freelady]

I tried all the various scissors in the house. The best were my old hand sewing favourites the folding ones, but they were no good for frogging. I resented the expense of the storks until I saw them in a sale. I absolutely love them. No one would dream of using them for anything because they are "Mum's special scissors". To me they are worth every penny especially for with the long tapered points.

[Dazbo666]

.... To me they are worth every penny especially for with the long tapered points.

Unfortunately it's actually for 'ing that I'm considering getting some. I'm currently using a scalpel type craft knife for purposes, but because it's an open blade I'm paranoid that I'll slip and slice myself, or possibly even worse, slice my project

I think I'm tempted to pop out to the nearby stash shop and see what's available locally, then compare it with whats available online

[~threadbear~]

Hmm, yes, I can't use my little chunky scissors for frogging. I have a thingywotsit, that you use for pulling threads out, but it's sharp, so I have to be careful. I almost killed the fabric under my boys hat in my AOY first sal. A bit over enthusiastic frogging on my part in league with these thingy's turned out to be a near on lethel combination.

My scissors are ok for cutting the ends of thread but you can't get terribly close I guess. Maybe that's why mine always look a furry still after. Not really thought about it too much until this thread.

Maybe we should do a poll on different scissors and see which comes out as top? These stork ones seem very popular, but some others seem to be as good as well.

[crazycat]

i think there popular cos there everywhere. the question is whats the alternative. i'd like to get another pair for work as its a pain taking to and from work

[Busy_B]

I used to use a pair of regular scissors that were just for crafts--cross stitch and cutting fabric. Then I bought a pair of the folding scissors (mainly to try to keep my kids away from the scissors and cutting my threads/patterns ). Here's what I've used http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp? ... D=prd50587" target="_blank
Just recently, my DH has asked for smaller scissors for when he is stitching. (He took over my regular sized craft scissors.) When we went to the craft store, we found something like this http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp? ... D=prd48299" target="_blank
He hasn't used them yet, but I have a second pair of them in with the eagle project, and they are nice to work with. I think I still prefer my folding scissors, though.