The best overall
Known for its fine tailoring, Italy is also the birthplace of the Gingher 8-inch Knife Edge Dressmaker's Shears. Hot-drop forged from high-carbon cutlery steel and then double-plated with chrome and nickel, these shears are ground and polished for a gorgeous yet durable appearance and sharp edges. The "tension point" or screw joint holding the 4-inch blades together are hand-tuned to ensure durability as well as the right fit for performance.
Described by Suzy Quilts as "reliable and traditional," these shears are heavy-duty and look pretty conventional with metal handles that most users describe as comfortable and stronger than plastic handles. From the top of the blade all the way through the tip, they cut material with precision and force. You can carve out pieces according to patterns, maneuver around curves, and trim seams.
You also can cut long, clean lines and large swaths of fabric with ease. One Amazon reviewer says the Gingher 8-inch Knife Edge Dressmaker's Shears "move through fabric like a hot knife on soft butter" and many agreed.
Mostcraft rates it "best for most users" and says it slices through "through double layered, thick upholstery fabric effortlessly, saving lots of time and frustration." An Amazon customer used it to cut "through four layers of quilted material with ease." The bent handle helps hold fabric flat on a surface for smooth, efficient, and comfortable cutting. An included nylon sheath protects the blades when they're not in use.
Weighing about 8 ounces, the Gingher 8-inch Knife Edge Dressmaker's Shears are a bit on the heavy side for sewing shears, which many people like for leverage and stability in cutting. On the other hand, Best Fabric Review Zone felt the shears are "too heavy," and a few Amazon users felt they couldn't use them for long periods of time without tiring the hand.
The Gingher 8-inch Knife Edge Dressmaker's Shears has garnered accolades from Best Reviews, Best Reviews Guide, Sewing From Home, Suzy Quilts, Mostcraft, Best Fabric Review Zone, Eco-globe, and Mary Janes and Galoshes. Among more than 1,800 Amazon reviewers, they received an average rating of 4.8 out of five stars.
Pros: Sharp and dependable, smooth precision cutting, able to slice through multiple layers of fabrics
Cons: A bit heavy
Buy Gingher 8-inch Knife Edge Dressmaker's Shears on Amazon for $17The best budget shears
Famous for sewing machines, Singer extends its fine brand quality to other sewing tools, including the Singer 8.5-inch ProSeries Scissors. Constructed of stainless steel, these shears have tempered blades — grounded on both sides for sharpness, smoothness in cutting, and longevity. The blades end in an ultra-fine tip for precise pattern and detail work. Singer states that each pair is inspected and hand-tested to ensure quality; the shears come with a lifetime guarantee.
With bent handles that are ergonomic, soft, and rubber-padded, these shears are comfortable to grip and use. Lightweight and easy to maneuver, they're great for sewers with arthritic hands or who just prefer working with lighter shears. They can be a little tight when new, but loosen up with use. Sewing From Home notes that both right-hand and left-handed people can operate the Singer 8.5-inch ProSeries Scissors; several Amazon lefties confirmed this.
Although highly affordable, these shears are no slouch in terms of performance. Sewing From Home describes them as "very effective at cutting through tough fabrics." Eco-globe says the Singer 8.5-inch ProSeries Scissors as "extremely strong, being able to cut through up to 20 sheets of paper or 6 sheets of cardboard" yet "ideal for precision cutting." One Amazon user "cut through 16 layers of fabric. My mom, sisters, and I made rag rugs where we needed many small pieces of fabric. I folded sheets, doubled over, up to eight times!"
The shears slice cleanly through various fabrics that — as I and many sewers can attest — do not lend themselves to clean cuts, like stretchy knits (e.g., t-shirt fabric), fleece, and denim. Although I think it would be sacrilegious to use these shears on anything but fabric or notions, apparently they are good for working on crafts. Sewing From Home named this model one of "Best All-Around Sewing Scissors" and many Amazon reviewers raved about using them in their crafting.
Pros: Very affordable and effective, comfortable handle, smooth and clean cutting
Cons: Can't be sharpened, not the most durable
Buy Singer 8.5-inch ProSeries Scissors on Amazon for $8.25The best pinking shears
I can't resist using pinking shears to trim seam allowances for a "finished" look before ironing them flat. Do you want clean (not ragged) edges that resist fraying? Then grab a pair of pinking shears, preferably Pinking Shears by P. LOTOR. Measuring 9.3 inches in total length, they have 4.6-inch-long stainless steel blades joined by a ball-bearing joint for smooth operation. They can be a little tight or stiff initially; oiling or greasing the joint will help, but be careful not to get grease or oil on your fabric.
Sharp and strong, these shears are great for trimming raw edges and leaving a zigzag pattern that helps prevent (but doesn't completely stop) the fabric from unraveling. Like most pinking shears, the Pinking Shears by P. LOTOR are large (relative to the more streamlined straight shears) and might not be the best for fine-detail cutting. Nonetheless, they cut very well through a couple layers of light-to-medium-weight fabric and heavy material like felt. Sew Kit Kit writes that they "cut your fabric with crisp[ness] and in one long stroke." One Amazon user says they "cut through two layers of heavy corduroy like a hot knife in butter."
Again, I shudder at the use of sewing shears on non-fabric items, but Sew Kit Kit describes the Pinking Shears by P. LOTOR as multipurpose scissors that can be used on paper, thin plastic, and other materials for crafting projects. And again, many Amazon users confirmed this and use the shears as crafting scissors. One person even claimed to use it on very thin metal; I think that has to make the shears dull, but you do you.
The Pinking Shears by P. LOTOR have comfortable, roomy soft-grip handles. Supposedly ambidextrous (i.e., designed for left- and right-handed users), some left-handed customers reported they didn't work as well. Weighing about 5.6 ounces, they are the right weight and heft for most people.
The Pinking Shears by P. LOTOR was ranked the top pick on Suzy Quilts and Sew Kit Kit; they snagged the second highest rank on Best Reviews Guide. Among more than 750 Amazon reviewers, these shears earned 4.3 out of 5 stars.
Pros: Sharp, versatile, compatible for right-handed and left-handed users
Cons: Heavy for some, a little stiff at first, not comfortable for all lefties
Buy Pinking Shears by P. LOTOR on Amazon for $12.99The best serrated scissors
Working with extremely thin, light, and slippery fabric can be frustrating: try cutting material that keeps sliding through the blades. What you want is a pair of serrated shears. Havel's 8-inch Serrated Fabric Scissors have stainless-steel blades with fine teeth that hold the fabric in place while it's being cut. Although pinking shears also have serrated blades, the serrations on these scissors are extremely tiny in order to grip slippery fabric gently.
One Amazon customer describes the experience of using the Havel's 8-inch Serrated Fabric Scissors like this: They "pull the fabric in to cut, unlike regular scissors that push the fabric out." As a sewer myself, I understand what this person is describing. Normally, as you cut through fabric, you feel like you're separating the fabric into two pieces that fall to the sides. Serrated scissors do the opposite so you don't feel like you are dropping or skimming along the fabric.
While the serrated blades grip fabric for a straight cut, they also provide security and flexibility "when cutting around shapes" as one Amazon wrote. That versatility is very important since anyone who sews knows that carving curves is when any fabric tends to slip, resulting in less precise cuts. These shears work on shiny fabrics like satin and even vinyl.
Amazon reviewers like that the Havel's 8-inch Serrated Fabric Scissors are sharp, easy to use, and lightweight (great for arthritic hands). They also are sharp, stay sharp, and cut smoothly all the way to the tip. And, these shears come with a convenient blade cover.
Havel's 8-inch Serrated Fabric Scissors are among the top picks on Mary Janes and Galoshes.
Pros: Lightweight, effective in holding and cutting slippery fabric
Cons: Not great for left-handed users
Buy Havel's 8-inch Serrated Fabric Scissors on Amazon for $16.54The best for left-handed
Sewing shears that are designed exclusively and effectively for left-handed users isn't easy to find (I would know, as I'm a leftie sewer), but Gingher 8-Inch Left-handed Knife Edge Bent Trimmers fits the bill. This pair is a true left-handed cutting instrument.
Made in Italy, they're hot-drop forged from high-carbon cutlery steel and double-plated with chrome and nickel. Ground and polished for durability and sharpness, these shears cut through multiple layers. Sound familiar? It's pretty similar to the left-handed version of our overall favorite.
The Gingher 8-Inch Left-handed Knife Edge Bent Trimmers cut into the fabric with ease. It has a bent handle that lets you cut fabric lying flat on a table smoothly, efficiently, and comfortably.
These shears are "Best Scissors for Lefties" on MostCraft and earned the second-highest ranking in DIY Projects' review dedicated to left-handed scissors.
More than 200 Amazon users rated it an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars, with 89% awarding it 5 stars. Weighing about 8 ounces, the Gingher 8-Inch Left-handed Knife Edge Bent Trimmers are on the heavy side for shears, which many people like but some find too heavy.
Two other complaints from Amazon customers were that the included nylon sheath is shaped for right-handed shears (thus useless for left-handed shears) and Gingher's signature tin with a molded inset for holding shears is not included.
Pros: True left-handed design, comfortable, sharp, strong
Cons: Heavy for some
Buy Gingher 8-Inch Left-handed Knife Edge Bent Trimmers on Amazon for $25.49