A good pair of scissors is essential to fabric-based projects. Whether sewing a garment, quilting, or making fabric crafts, you need reliable scissors to cut the fabric effectively and accurately.
So, what are the best fabric cutting scissors? The best fabric cutting scissors create clean cuts, offer a comfortable grip for your dominant hand, and are made out of durable and high-quality materials to last over years of use.
Nonetheless, the market for scissors is oversaturated, making it extremely tough for buyers to make a purchasing decision. There are a plethora of scissors brands out there, each with its own unique selling point.
If you happen to be at a crossroads on what scissors to choose for your fabric cutting needs, keep on reading. This article provides a detailed buying guide followed by reviews of the 7 best fabric cutter scissors for your convenience!
Choosing Fabric Cutter Scissors
It is daunting to make a choice from hundreds of products when you do not know exactly what you should be looking for. Well, here are a few pointers to help you with that.
Type Of Scissors
Any scissors will cut fabric, but not to your satisfaction if it is not specifically intended for this purpose. Therefore, you must choose the ideal pair of scissors for the job.
There are many types of fabric cutting scissors, but we’ll mention the popular ones like shears. If you are a dressmaker and frequently cut fabric, shears are an excellent investment.
Shears feature two asymmetrical finger holes: a little one for your thumb at the top and a larger one for your fingers at the bottom. This allows you to fit more fingers at the bottom to apply more pressure and get better control while cutting.
A pair of shears’ blades are normally longer than 6 inches and also sharper. They cut through flimsy and tough fabrics effortlessly, resulting in a smooth cut.
If on a budget, all-purpose scissors are the most reasonably priced type of scissors. These cut everything, including fabrics, and are great for crafters who cut all types of materials.
However, the blades dull quickly as a result. So if you choose to go with one, ensure you dedicate it to fabric cutting only. You’ll maintain its sharpness for longer.
Another type of specialized scissors are serrated shears. They have serrated blades which provide some grip when cutting extremely shifty and flowy fabrics.
Lastly are electric shears which are recommended for people with arthritis, tendonitis, and other conditions of the joints, muscles, and ligaments. They are battery or power operated hence less physically demanding. We also have an article for the best sewing scissors for arthritis if you’re looking to ease strain on your hands and wrists in all creative endeavors.
Ergonomic Design
When cutting through a piece of fabric, you are naturally inclined to exert more pressure than with paper due to its flexibility. This can get painful for your joints real fast if the scissors are not ergonomic.
The most comfortable fabric cutters are flat at the cutting base with a raised handle. This allows you to cut through your fabric from a comfortable angle while keeping the scissors flat.
For the handles, rubberized ones provide a better cushion for your fingers. They give the most comfortable experience even after extended use.
Also, a bigger bottom handle accommodates more fingers, which adds to the comfort of the scissors.
Material Quality
How well a pair of scissors is constructed will influence their longevity, especially the quality of material used. Stainless steel is the preferred choice of material for the majority of fabric cutters.
It is among the strongest and most durable metals for making high-quality tools. Stainless steel blades can also be sharpened when they go blunt.
The material is also corrosion and rust-resistant. While the chances of your scissors coming into direct contact with water are almost nil, humidity is still a threat.
Blade Length
When looking for the ideal size for your fabric cutters, there’s the blade length to consider.
The longer the blade, the smoother the cut and the faster the job gets done. However, you lose out on precision with an increase in length.
Shorter blades are ideal for snipping, trimming, and cutting tight corners and curves intricately.
If we had to be specific, the ideal minimum blade length would have to be 8 inches. Anything less than that will make cutting seamlessly nearly impossible.
There are long scissors that go up to 12 inches long. These are mostly used to get the work done quickly.
They would only be useful in cases where precision is a non-factor, like cutting through the length of fabric. They are also good for thicker fabrics like denim, upholstery fabric, and leather.
Handle Comfort
You shouldn’t forget about the handles. The fabric cutter scissors will last longer if they are also carved out of steel. Metal, however, makes the overall weight bulky.
You can opt for industrial-grade plastic instead. They are relatively long-lasting and make the fabric cutter lighter.
Another important aspect is the size and shape. There are scissors with equal-sized holes and those with a larger bottom hole known as shears.
Regardless of what you choose, ensure that your fingers fit comfortably. If it’s too tight or too wobbly, it will negatively impact the cleanliness and precision of the cut.
Hand Orientation
Lastly, check that the fabric cutter scissor is designed for your dominant hand. There are left and right-handed scissors.
The top blade is what determines the side because it is the visible blade that cuts into the fabric from the top. If you are left-handed then the top blade should be to your right and vice versa.
The 7 Best Fabric Cutter Scissors
Now that you have a vivid idea of the ideal fabric cutter scissors for your specific needs, let’s move over to the specific brands worthy of your consideration. Here are our 7 best fabric cutter scissors from brands with a track record.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Gingher Knife Edge Dressmaker's Shears | 8", long-term edge retention, ultra sharp |
| 2. | Fiskars Original Orange Handled Scissors | 8", stainless steel, non-stick blades |
| 3. | Singer ProSeries Heavy Duty Bent Sewing Scissors | Bent for comfort and ease of use, rubberized |
| 4. | Proshear Fabric Scissors | Heavy duty, ultra sharp, bent handle, durable |
| 5. | Pink Power Electric Fabric Scissors | Electric, soft grip handle, cordless |
| 6. | Fiskars Left-hand Bent-left Scissors | Left-handed, ergonomic, 8" |
| 7. | Singer ProSeries Sewing Scissors Bundle | Bundle of 3, ambidextrous |
1. Gingher Knife Edge Dressmaker’s Shears
Gingher’s 8-inch shears are hands down the best fabric cutting scissors around. Whether you are looking for efficiency, versatility, durability, or precision, Gingher can’t let you down.
The brand has been around for the longest time providing sewists and crafters with the sharpest cuts. Consequently, they have a well-deserved reputation for high quality.
Their forged steel material construction, developed with over 70 years of experience, guarantees long-term edge retention. This ensures that they’ll last a lifetime.
The scissor has received a few design tweaks over time and the current style is modern, sleek, and more user-friendly.
The blades are long, strong, and very sharp producing crisp cuts even through multiple layers of fabric. They cut all the way to the tip thanks to their ultra-sharp, precision-ground blades. You’ll literally be gliding through your projects.
An ergonomically bent handle keeps your fabric flat when you cut with it. In addition, there is extra room provided by the broad handles; you can cut for longer periods without experiencing any discomfort.
The scissors, however, are a little bit on the heavy side. You’ll have to get used to them but once you do, there is no going back. These are some of the most popular fabric cutting shears on the market. They have superior construction, are attractive, sharp, and can be resharpened too.
2. Fiskars Original Orange Handled Scissors
When it comes to the best cutting tools, Fiskars has carved out a niche for itself. Fiskars tools are known for their traditional style and solid construction, so you can count on them.
Their iconic orange-handled scissors are our next choice. Even though Fiskars makes several color handles, the orange pair is unquestionably the most beloved.
These are all-purpose scissors that perform exceedingly well even on fabrics. They have no bias and will tackle thick denim, delicate silk, and everything in between.
These scissors feature 8-inch stainless steel blades with a curved grip that makes it easy to cut through numerous layers of fabric. Cutting any cloth with this pair of scissors will be a breeze.
The smooth cutting is made possible by a precision-ground edge. Couple that with contoured handles and you’ll have the best possible control and comfort.
You can also forget about jams thanks to the non-stick blades that ensure the edges are always clean.
This pair of scissors is the best all-purpose tool for the job, thanks to the revolutionary design that makes it efficient for all fabric weights.
3. Singer ProSeries Heavy Duty Bent Sewing Scissors
Singer is a top industrial player in sewing accessories. You can trust its ProSeries heavy-duty bent sewing scissors for all your fabric cutting needs.
Its blades are made of tempered steel, and are extremely robust and precise when it comes to cutting. It glides through multiple layers of cloth and the toughest of textiles without problem.
The handle makes the entire cutting experience as comfortable as possible. It is not only bent but the holes are soft and padded to offer relief. Anyone with painful or weak wrists will appreciate these scissors.
We’ve grown to expect high-quality products at a reasonable price from Singer, and this ProSeries pair of scissors is one of them.
4. Proshear Fabric Scissors
Tired of plastic-handled scissors breaking on you? Looking for a little bit of heft? Then you have to try these fabric scissors.
They are heavy-duty scissors —literally. They weigh a little more than the standard scissors you might be used to.
The scissors have high carbon steel razor-sharp edges. It is metal to the handles and practically unbreakable.
The handle is bent to provide the much needed leverage while a smooth rubber coating around the holes enhances comfort.
These scissors will cut through all types of fabric and handle bulky fabrics exceptionally well. Leather, denim, canvas, and upholstery fabric workers will be delighted at how it cuts like a dream.
You can easily take them apart to sharpen the blades. But that won’t be necessary for a long while. They hold up really well. They come pre-oiled. Therefore they open and close with zero resistance for the smoothest, most precise cuts.
5. Pink Power Electric Fabric Scissors
Electric scissors are a fantastic option for those who have difficulty cutting by fabric manually, or anyone handling large quantities of fabric. Pink Power is the electric scissors worthy of space in your toolbox.
They weigh less than a pound and are less than 9 inches long, making them easy to maneuver without wearing you out. With a soft-grip handle, the Pink Power electric scissors may be used for extended periods without discomfort.
It includes interchangeable blades for fabric and paper and cardboard and metal. These can be swapped out in seconds.
This is a cordless model and runs on batteries so you can use it pretty much anywhere. Do not dismiss its capabilities though.
It is very powerful. On a single charge, the lithium-ion rechargeable battery of the electric scissors provides 2 hours of uninterrupted cutting time.
There is a lock and safety button that prevents unintentional movement, ensuring your safety at all times. This is very thoughtful of the manufacturer as safety comes first with any electric device.
One drawback worth mentioning is that it comes with just one battery and is a little noisy too. But that’s a common thing for similar electric scissors.
It is a wonderful addition to the workshop of anyone who cuts fabric extensively. Pink Power will save you time, money, and unnecessary trips to a chiropractor.
6. Fiskars Left-hand Bent-left Scissors
Regardless of the hand you use to cut, scissors should match the natural squeezing motion of your hand. So that the cutting line may be visible, true left-handed scissors have suitably mounted blades.
If you are left-handed and have been cutting fabric for a while, you know to avoid “ambidextrous” scissors if you are serious about precise cutting.
It is recommended to get the left-handed variant of the best fabric cutting scissors, in this case, Fiskars. Its left-handed version is as efficient as the popular 8″ bent right-handed scissors and shares all its great features.
The pair of scissors comes with an ergonomic bent handle design and sharp 8-inch stainless steel blades. The scissors are super versatile and can cut hard and soft fabrics and numerous layers of fabric too.
7. Singer ProSeries Sewing Scissors Bundle
Getting started with sewing? Well, you’ll need more than one pair of fabric cutting scissors to meet a wide range of cutting requirements.
We have the perfect bundle for you—the Singer ProSeries fabric cutter scissor set. You get ProSeries heavy duty bent fabric shears (8.5′′) for your general cutting needs, a 4.5′′ ProSeries detail scissors (4.5′′) for trims and small cuts, and 5′′ ProSeries thread snips.
Any type of garment or craft can be worked on in as much or as little detail as you like when you have all three shears at your disposal.
A comfortable grip is provided by the handles, and the scissors are ambidextrous. While not as great as specifically left-handed scissors for lefties, they certainly can be used either as left or right-handed scissors.
Overall, the craftsmanship is superb and the scissors are of excellent quality as they display impressive skill in the execution of the cuts.
While we strive to recommend high quality products, proper maintenance is key to enhance the useful life of your fabric cutter scissors. Be sure to oil them once in a while and avoid cutting other materials like paper or plastic to prevent dulling of the blades.
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