Workroom tools.

Scissors are probably the most important tool in today's sewing room. For all the modernization and computerization all around us, virtually anything you buy today that is custom sewn had to have gone through the blades of the humble scissors.

I want to talk a little about the scissors I use. I prefer using heavy tailor's sheers to do most of my cutting. the blades are longer, smoother and the control is unsurpassed. they are heavy and rather bulky but they more than make up for it in their ergonomics. My hands are rather large and solid making using your average regular girly scissors a little hard... these scissors have handles that are contoured perfectly for cutting. These are designed to run along the table, so you don't actually lift them off the table, this saves on strength and stamina.

You can see the scissors stand on their own,this makes them easy to grasp when you need them to start cutting. The first pair are my everyday pair. A circa 1970' pair of Wiss 13" tailor's sheers... yes 13" These are my favourite pair of scissors, they feel like they were made for me! Next with the gold locknut are a pair of custom made Wasa scissors from Solingen in Germany. Another great pair of scissors, also 13" long. The last pair of scissors, are not in use and were a gift to me from a client. they measure a whopping 16" in length, and are MONSTROUSLY heavy. They do cut, but I never use them, they are just too huge! 

Last month I ordered a new pair of scissors for the workroom, from Wenger the maker of the Swiss Army Knife. Wenger redesigned the scissor to make them run smoother and more efficiently. They even renamed them the Swissor! The swissors, are very easy to use, EXTREMELY sharp! I like the fact that I can replace the blades very easily, and their is almost no hand fatigue due to the multiple pivot bearings. They were expensive, about $230 a pair, but I think they will show their value very quickly.

Notice how the base of the scissor has what looks like a fin, that runs along the table while cutting to keep a nice straight line.  I prefer to use the tailor's sheers because of the longer cut run, and most of my cuts are over  100", it just makes things easier and quicker. But I think the swissors will show their worth when sewing fine detailed items, maybe like clothing, collars, pockets etc.