Scissors, Scissors, Scissors

I am a bit of a scissor addict. I have been for years and years. It's my mother's fault. It began with the mystery and awe that surrounded her "good scissors". These fabled scissors were large dressmaker scissors made of shiny silver. They resided in her sewing basket and you risked loss of limb if you touched them. My grandmother also had a pair of these fabulous "good scissors". I remember thinking that I couldn't wait until I had a pair of "good scissors" of my own.

Fast forward and today I have many pairs of scissors of all levels of quality and some downright crappy scissors. The photo above is a very small sampling of the scissors I own. I am a bit ashamed to show just how many I have, yet I continue to buy. It's a bit of a compulsion. I can barely pass up a scissor display without stopping. When one has an addiction it is quite easy to make up reasons for buying.

Apparently I am not alone and quilt shops have found this out. They all have little displays on the cash register with colorful little scissors that one just has to add to their purchase. These things are like Happy Meal toys for quilters.

I have a collection of utility scissors that have jobs such as cutting paper, cutting wool with paper, cutting quilt batting and backing.

Then we have the Gingher collections. These are the standard embroidery scissors they make. I have multiple pairs in silver and gold. You can see that the gold one pictured here are so used that the gold has worn off. I also have Gingher stork scissors and lion embroidery scissors and large designer dressmaker scissors.

How about curved blades?

Sometimes you have to have them because they look old and cool.

And finally you find the scissors that will become your "good scissors". These are mine and I LOVE them. I am an appliquer so my good scissors are for applique. These are Appliquick scissors and I think they are the gold standard. They are four inches long which I find to be the perfect size. They have micro serrated blades which let you trim your seam allowance very close without raveling. This is really important in making sharp points and appliqueing small detailed shapes. I had a pair of Karen K Buckley scissors but for some reason my puppy chewed off the cool green handles. I liked those well enough but these are far superior. The serrated edge is so fine you can barely see it and I don't know what they are made of but they feel great. When you take them out of the package you know you have quality. I couldn't live without these! I finally have my very own Good Scissors!

I bought mine at Homestead Hearth for around $35. I don't think they stay in stock for long so you may want to shoot them an email asking for them if you are interested in buying a pair. ( We have to support our brick and mortar quilt shops so they don't become extinct.)

And one last thing. For those of you who don't know, in my other life I am a hair stylist. I supported myself and my two boys for 21 years with a pair of scissors in my hand. So I think I know a thing or two about them.

Happy Quilting, Dawn