25 Best Sewing Scissors For Quilting: The Ultimate Guide

As an avid quilter, I know firsthand the importance of having quality sewing scissors in your quilting toolkit. Trying to cut detailed shapes or trim multiple layers of fabric with inadequate, dull scissors is incredibly frustrating! Investing in the best sewing scissors suited for quilting will make your projects go smoother and be more enjoyable.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll recommend the top 25 sewing scissors that every quilter needs. We’ll cover professional dressmaking shears, pinking shears, embroidery and applique scissors, thread snips, and specialty quilting scissors. I’ve used all of these scissors personally on my quilts!

Whether you’re buying your first pair of quality scissors or rounding out your collection, you’ll find the best sewing scissors for quilters here. Let’s get cutting!

25 best sewing scissors for quilting

Overview of Quilting Scissors

Before jumping into the top scissors, let’s briefly go over the main types of scissors quilters need in their toolkit.

Dressmaking Shears

These are the full-size fabric cutting workhorses used for cutting out large pattern pieces, trimming seams, and slicing through multiple fabric layers. Look for shears with blades 8-inches or longer. Sturdy, sharp, quality dressmaking shears will make cutting fabric effortless.

Pinking Shears

The zig-zag blades on pinking shears are used to prevent raw fabric edges from excessive fraying. They create a decorative edge and are great for finishing seams. Pinking shears are also useful for cutting notches into curved seams.

Embroidery and Applique Scissors

For detailed cutting of small shapes and trimming threads, turn to short blade embroidery scissors. Look for soft grip handles for comfort and control. Applique scissors have a specialized shape to trim fabric edges without cutting into the layer below.

Thread Snips

These tiny scissors are designed for quickly clipping threads. The sharp pointed tips get right up next to fabric or seams for clean cuts. Keep multiple thread snips handy by your sewing machine!

Specialty Quilting Scissors

Certain scissors are designed for specialty techniques like rag quilting. And if you’ll be cutting a lot of batting, get scissors specifically for that thick and fibrous material.

Now let’s get to the top 25 recommendations in each category!

1. Professional Dressmaking Shears

Your go-to scissors for cutting quilt fabric will be a large pair of dressmaking shears. Look for high-carbon steel blades that hold sharp edges and comfortable handles that fit your hand. Here are the best:

Gingher Dressmaker Shears

The Gingher brand has built a reputation for quality since 1947. Their dressmaking shears live up to that name with superb cutting and durability. The high-carbon steel blades have extra sharp cutting edges to slice through fabric with ease.

Who it’s best for: Those who want a classic heirloom pair of shears backed by a lifetime guarantee.

Gingher 8″ Knife Edge Dressmaker’s Shears

Guggenheim Shears

Another premium dressmaking shear worth investing in is from the German brand Guggenheim. Users love how smoothly the forged steel blades cut, even through multiple layers of denim and other heavy fabrics.

Who it’s best for: Quilters working with thicker fabrics like denim who want shears that feel balanced and lightweight.

Guggenheim Forged 9″ Razor-Sharp Dressmaking Shears

Kai Dressmaking Shears

Made in Japan, Kai scissors live up to their reputation for unparalleled sharpness and cutting ability. Their shears slice through fabric smoothly and precisely. The angled bent handle also helps keep fabric flat while cutting.

Who it’s best for: Those willing to invest in professional-grade Japanese steel for buttery smooth cutting action.

Kai 5210 8-Inch Dressmaking Shears

Fabric Tailor Shears

For a budget-friendly price, these fabric tailor shears from ZYLISS provide similar cutting ability to the pricey brands. The high-carbon steel maintains its sharp edge to make clean cuts through various weights of fabric.

Who it’s best for: Quilters who want good performance without the premium price tag.

ZYLISS 12″ Heavy Duty Fabric Tailor Shears

Singer ProSeries Bent Shears

From a trusted sewing brand, these Singer ProSeries shears are designed for keeping fabric flat during cutting. The 9.5-inch blade is long enough to cut pattern pieces efficiently. Singer stands behind the quality with a limited lifetime guarantee.

Who it’s best for: Those who want an affordable pair backed by a lifetime warranty.

Singer ProSeries 9.5” Bent Shears

Video Suggestion:

A video demonstrating how to properly cut fabric with dressmaking shears could go here. Showing good cutting technique on a large quilt pattern piece would be helpful for beginners.

Image Suggestion:

Include a chart comparing the different brands of dressmaking shears and their key specifications like blade length, handle material, warranty info, etc.

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2. Pinking Shears

A good set of pinking shears is another quilting essential. Here are the best options:

Kai Pinking Shears

Japanese steel and superb craftsmanship make Kai an excellent brand for pinking shears as well as dressmaking shears. The serrated zig-zag blades hold sharp longer than other pinking shears I’ve tried.

Who it’s best for: Those who want professional quality pinking shears for frequent use.

Kai 7150 8-Inch Pinking Shears

Scalloped Pinking Shears

Add a decorative finish along edges with scalloped pinking shears. The curved blades create a lovely vintage look on fabrics, paper, and other materials. Less expensive than standard pinking shears but still provide the non-fraying ability.

Who it’s best for: Crafters and sewists on a budget who want the decorative scalloped edge.

LIVMOO Decorative Scalloped Pinking Shears

Pinking shears are indispensible when I’m working on quilts and other sewing projects. They save time finishing seam edges to prevent fraying compared to zig-zag stitching or overcasting. Pinking shears also neatly trim notches into curved seams in one snip. Invest in a quality pair like Kai or utilize the decorative scalloped edge shears for embellishing projects.

Image Suggestion:

Show examples of using pinking shears on different quilting and sewing projects – trimming curved seams, finishing an edge, cutting decorative shapes from felt, etc.

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3. Embroidery and Applique Scissors

When working on detailed quilting or embroidery, you need small sharp scissors for maneuvering into tight spots. Here are the best small scissors for quilters:

Gingher Embroidery Scissors

Gingher makes quality embroidery scissors and snips alongside its larger dressmaking shears. The tiny 3-1/2 inch blade allows detailed cutting in small spaces. A comfortable grip provides control so you can carefully trim threads and make small cuts.

Who it’s best for: Embroiderers and quilters who appreciate sharp precision blades for detail work.

Gingher 3-1/2″ Stork Embroidery Scissors

Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Scissors

With ultra-sharp micro-serrated blades, these Karen Kay Buckley scissors are designed to cut fabric cleanly without slippage. The smaller blade is ideal for quickly and accurately cutting templates or pieces for applique.

Who it’s best for: Those seeking effortless cutting control in a small precision blade.

Karen Kay Buckley 7-1/2″ Perfect Scissors – Micro-Serrated

Fiskars Spring Loaded Scissors

The spring mechanism on these scissors helps avoid hand pain and fatigue by opening the blades back up after each cut. The soft grip handles add comfort as well. A great choice for quilters with arthritis or other hand pain issues.

Who it’s best for: Quilters and crafters needing an aid for hand pain and strength limitations.

Fiskars Softgrip 7″ Spring Assist Scissors

Smaller scissors like these are indispensible when working on the finer details of a quilting or embroidery project. Look for soft grip handles and sharp precision tips. Auto-opening spring loaded scissors can also minimize hand pain.

Video Suggestion:

Demonstrate using embroidery scissors for tasks like:

• Clipping threads
• Cutting applique shapes from fabric
• Trimming seam allowances
• Snipping curves

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4. Thread Snips

You’ll be amazed how often thread snips come in handy until you actually start using them. Here are my favorites:

Tula Pink Thread Snips

Designed by popular fabric designer Tula Pink, these small thread snips quickly get under stitches for clean cuts. The sharp tips are perfect for clipping threads next to seams or fabric. The rainbow titanium coating is beautiful and functional.

Who it’s best for: Sewists who want gorgeous scissors capable of detailed thread trimming.

Tula Pink 4″ Thread Snips

Havel’s Embroidery Snips

For an affordable price, these Havel embroidery snips provide the same ability to trim threads smoothly and closely. The sharp tips easily snip right next to sewn seams. Embroidery snips are handy to keep near sewing machines.

Who it’s best for: Those who want inexpensive but still quality thread snips within reach of every project.

Havel’s 4-1/2″ Embroidery Snips

Thread snips have become one of my most used scissors as I quilt and sew. I have them stashed everywhere for quick access to clip stray threads on projects. The sharp pointed tips get right under stitches for clean cuts. Try the gorgeous Tula Pink snips or affordable Havel brand – either will be a welcome addition to your toolkit.

Image Suggestion:

Show thread snips being used to clip threads next to sewn seams on a quilt block or other project. Zoom in to emphasize how the sharp tips can trim closely.

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5. Specialty Quilting Scissors

Beyond the essential scissors already covered, consider adding specialty scissors suited for particular quilting techniques like rag quilts or for cutting batting.

Heritage Rag Quilting Snips

The spring loaded handle on these snips reduces hand strain while cutting fabric strips for rag quilts. The soft grip and ergonomic handles provide comfort for making repetitive cuts through multiple layers of fabric.

Who it’s best for: Rag quilt makers who want to avoid hand fatigue from cutting many strips.

Heritage 8″ Spring Action Rag Quilting Snips

Fiskars Rag Quilt Snips

Fiskars offers another great option for rag quilt scissors. The unique shape keeps fabric flat while cutting through thick layers. Strong enough even for denim and other heavy fabrics. The stainless steel blades will provide lasting performance.

Who it’s best for: Those making many rag quilts will get fast cutting with these durable snips.

Fiskars 8-1/2” Softouch Rag Quilter Snips

Gingher Double Curved Embroidery Scissors

The bent handles on these scissors make it easy to trim threads and fabrics inside your embroidery hoop. No more struggling to maneuver big shears into tight spaces! The sharp curved blades provide control for detailed cutting.

Who it’s best for: Machine embroiderers will love having precise control cutting around stitches.

Gingher 3-3/4″ Double Curved Embroidery Scissors

While most quilters will only need basic scissors for most projects, specialty scissors can maximize efficiency and precision for certain techniques. Consider them an investment if you’ll be doing a lot of rag quilts, embroidery, or repeatedly cutting batting.

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Conclusion

Quality scissors are one of the most essential tools for quilters. Dull scissors that struggle to cut fabric will hamper your progress and enjoyment of quilting. That’s why investing in good shears and scissors suited for quilting tasks is so important.

In this ultimate guide, we covered the top options in five categories:

• Dressmaking Shears like Gingher, Kai, and Guggenheim for cutting fabric
• Pinking Shears such as Kai and scalloped varieties for finishing edges
• Embroidery Scissors like Karen Kay Buckley for detailed work
• Thread Snips including Tula Pink for quick trimming
• Specialty Scissors like rag quilt snips

Look for high-carbon steel blades that hold their sharp edges, comfortable hand-fitted handles, and the right sizes for your projects. Quality brands like Gingher, Karen Kay Buckley, Fiskars, and Kai are always a safe bet. With the 25 best sewing scissors recommended here, you’ll be ready to cut fabric and conquer your quilting projects!