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Yoko Saito "My Passion for Good Tools" > Good Tools > Sissors p.1

(Hayashi) You are very particular about various tools, but today I would like you to talk about scissors. You often say that it is best to use different scissors depending on the purpose. At first I would like you to tell us what kind of scissors are good for paper cutting.

For cutting paper, use scissors with large grips and thin blades.

(Saito) Well, when we cut thick cardboard to make quilt block templates, it's better to use scissors with a large grip and thin blades so as not to put strain on your wrist. The reason is that if you want to cut neatly along a straight line, you can't do so with thick-bladed scissors, like craft scissors. They don't cut sharply, so a thin blade is better. And with a large grip you can apply more force in your hand. And there's no need for the blade to be so long, right?

(Hayashi) Yes. Since we often cut small paper templates, we don't need a long blade.

(Saito) That's right, you don't need a long blade, about 5cm is enough. These scissors have great strength. For example, when you want to make a quilt bag, you sew two quilted layers (the top, batting, and backing)together,then trim the seam allowances with scissors. When doing this, you should not use good scissors like fabric cutters. If you use delicate scissors like fabric cutters to cut something that thick, like quilting batting, the sharpness will gradually decrease, so in that case you should use paper scissors. The grip is large, so you can cut through thick materials. When cutting three-layered materials together, use paper scissors.

(Hayashi) Is it better to use paper scissors when just cutting a batting?

(Saito) That's right. With quilt cores, you should never use good scissors like those used for fabric cutting. Paper cutting scissors are used specifically for quilt cores and paper cutting.

When it comes to fabric cutting scissors, the weight and length of the blade are important.

(Hayashi) I understand. Now, please tell us about fabric cutting scissors.

(Saito) I really love scissors, so I've tried all kinds. You know, crane-shaped ones. When I started patchwork quilt, the scissors used by quilters were called Gingher.

(Hayashi) Gingher? I've never heard of that before.

(Saito) Really? They're still on sale today. They look good and are sharp, but they're heavy. That's why they're tiring. From my experience using them, I've found that for me the most important thing is that they're light. Also, I don't often cut long distances of 2 or 3 meters, and I usually cut smaller items, so the blade length (about 7cm) is just right, not too short or too long. And, of course, a larger grip is better. A larger grip means you don't get tired as easily. I got wrist tendonitis once a long time ago. 

(Hayashi) It seems that many people who do patchwork suffer from tendonitis.

(Saito) That's right. In the end, the grip is small and the angle of your wrist when trying to hold the scissors is not good.

(Hayashi) Is it this angle?

(Saito) Yes, the angle at which you try to grab them like this isn't good. But if the grip was bigger, you could grab them easily, right?

(Hayashi) I see, so when I try to get your hand into the grip of a small pair of scissors, I have to bend my wrist.

(Saito) Yes, like with thread scissors, if the grip is small, it puts strain on your wrist every time you try to grab it, and it's definitely not good. The grip needs to be large and light so you can grab it quickly. And above all, these fabric scissors don't let the fabric slip away. That's why fabric scissors that are often advertised as for patchwork have notches on the tip of the blade. That way the fabric doesn't slip away, but when you cut the edge of the fabric to even out the seam allowance, because the blade has notches, dirt accumulates in the notches. That's why I don't use them. But these fabric scissors can cut without letting the fabric slip away, and they cut firmly all the way to the tip of the blade. I definitely recommend these now. I've used a lot of different ones, and these are the best so far.

(Hayashi) When I was first introduced to these fabric scissors, I thought, "Huh? These are pretty plain scissors." I was hoping to use something that looked more professional, so I was a little disappointed. But when I actually used them, I was surprised. I often cut lots of small pieces, and these scissors make cutting so easy.

(Saito) That's true. I have a lot of different kinds of scissors. I love experimenting to see which scissors have the sharpest cutting edge under the same conditions (laugh). So I decided that these are the ones for me. However, in two or three years, if some scissors manufacturer comes out with something better, I might think, "I'll stop using these and get something new!", but for now these are my go-to. However, these fabric scissors have been my number one recommendation for over ten years, so that won't change for the time being. I don't think it'll be easy to find better fabric scissors.

(Hayashi) Using fabric scissors really tires your hands, so it's important to choose them well.

(Saito) Yes. You'll be using them for long periods of time anyway, so they need to be light and you don't need a very long blade.

For scissors to cut threads, you should use ones with a large grip.

(Hayashi) I see. Next, please tell us about thread-cutting scissors.

(Saito) Now, let's talk about thread-cutting scissors. These are a little big, so they may not be suitable for carrying around, but most patchwork is done at home, so I think it's fine to have them this big. To make it small enough to be used on a mobile phone, the only option is to make the grip smaller. But with a small grip, you end up bending your wrist too much, so it's important that the grip is large. Nowadays, when I do piecing or quilting, I use a ring cutter, so I don't need thread-cutting scissors, but in the past, when I didn't have a ring cutter, in order to sew quickly, I would hold the needle in my right hand and not want to let go of my right hand. But if I didn't let go, I couldn't cut the thread with the scissors, so I used the scissors with my left hand. 

(Hayashi) You don't use a Japanese grip scissors (U-shaped scissors with no place to put one's fingers), do you? You don’t like them?

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