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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: MaryW
Date: 09-30-2005, 11:03 AM (1 of 21)
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We all use scissors. There are a few rules we should all abide by to keep them sharp and smooth. I thought I would post what I know about them here. Please add your own tips and thoughts too. 1. Use your fabric shears only for their intended use. You can cut paper, wire and all that other stuff with either kitchen scissors or a rotary cutter. 2. Wipe your blades and the screw off with a dry cloth after cutting fabrics that have a lot of loose fibres or lint. One example is fleece. 3. Unless your scissors are dishwasher safe, avoid putting them in water. If your scissors do become wet, wipe them dry right away. 4. If your scissors are hard to open, put a drop of sewing machine or mineral oil on the pivot screw. 5. Label your scissors "for sewing only" and keep craft scissors handy for everyone else. 6. Polyester dulls scissors very quickly. Be prepared to sharpen regularly or have a pair set aside just for that fabric. 7. Anchor a pair of small snips close to your sewing machine so they will be at your side all the time. 8. To protect the points of your scissors, try using the cap from an old pen to push over them as protection. Anyone else have any tips on taking care of your scissors. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-30-2005, 12:19 PM (2 of 21)
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Call me paranoid, but when my scissors get wet, (seldom) I dry them with the blow dryer so that I ensure they are totally dry.. Each school age child should be furnished his own pair of scissors and he will leave yours alone. Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 09-30-2005, 09:05 PM (3 of 21)
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Goes for husbands too....give them a COUPLE of pair of scissors to cut paper with and make sure they're in REACH of their hands at all times. Thus they leave yours alone...(because you know, NO matter HOW many times you SAY, LEAVE MY SEWING STUFF ALONE, it doesn't penetrate a male brain).
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: Debby215
Date: 09-30-2005, 09:38 PM (4 of 21)
Yes, I have 2 large and one small pair of scissors that are pink and my DH and DS and everyone else including my DGD KNOWS that the pink ones are Gramma's. I have paper scissors labeled in the kitchen and in my desk, so my guys especially KNOW BETTER than to even look at the pink ones. My DS does tease occasionally that he used those PINK ones to trim the grass etc...  . I bought actual scissor covers at Joann a while back and try to keep them on after using and get them sharpened once a year. THat seems to work for me.
Debby
So much fabric....... So little time!! |
User: Debby215
Member since: 11-14-2001 Total posts: 611 
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From: HeyJudee
Date: 10-01-2005, 12:03 AM (5 of 21)
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I watched a Fons and Porter show a couple of weeks ago and they use a key padlock to lock up their scissors. They put the lock through the 2 holes in the handles and shut the padlock. They hide the key (or wear it around their neck). This guarantees that no one uses their scissors. I thought this was a great idea!
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 10-01-2005, 08:24 AM (6 of 21)
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I use cheap and therefore disposable scissors because all I really do with them is trim seams and snip threads. I have old ones for cutting out the pattern pieces before I lay them out. I cut fabric with the rotary cutter and I did make my husband walk in a fabric store to replace the blade he used to cut paper with. He stays away from my sewing tools now. He always acts as though going into a fabric store is a terrible fate. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Teri
Date: 10-01-2005, 08:41 AM (7 of 21)
 I bought the Fiskars scissor sharpener and the rotatary blade sharpener, really great investments. The scissor sharper even works on the cheap paper scissors that are in every pencil cup in the house to keep folks from looking in my sewing drawers to find the good ones! 
Teri
"Where are we going, and why am I in this basket?" |
User: Teri
Member since: 09-14-2005 Total posts: 66 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 10-01-2005, 12:59 PM (8 of 21)
I bought a pair of Fiskars and got the sharpener also,.. I can use it for spring loaded ones, but there is a caution on there that says, NOT FOR LEFT HANDED SCISSORS.. Said it will ruin them.. Oh well, works on the spring loaded ones.So, if you are a southpaw like me, be warned.. 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: mommydionne
Date: 10-01-2005, 04:34 PM (9 of 21)
death threats have been uttered regarding my scissors  I have the fisker spring loaded ones and a traditional orange handled pair and a pair of applique scissors (love these don't know how I did heirloom without them), multiple pairs of snips (one on a ribbon I wear around my neck while sewing) and of course a couple of rotary cutters.the kids have their own snips and there are two pair of kitchen scissors. Lots of stuff to cut with in our house!! I also have the fiskers sharpener, it is really nice to have! Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: ladylin
Date: 10-03-2005, 03:58 PM (10 of 21)
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An inexpensive way to make a scissor protector is to purchase a potholder (with hanging loop). Fold it in half so the loop is at the fold. Sew from the outside corner (oposite the loop) to the opposite corner (catty-corner) to form a triangle. These make nice gifts or stocking stuffers for that special sewing friend.
Lin
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown |
User: ladylin
Member since: 06-01-2005 Total posts: 11 |
From: MaryW
Date: 10-03-2005, 06:48 PM (11 of 21)
Hi Ladylin and welcome to Sew Whats New. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: paroper
Date: 10-03-2005, 11:49 PM (12 of 21)
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I have a pegboard in my cutting area. I keep my scissors and rotary cutters hung and out of the way of little hands. Hanging the scissors helps protect their points.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 10-04-2005, 08:18 AM (13 of 21)
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Cool idea Lin, I'm forever searching for my scissors on the sewing table. And I have a place to hang them right by the table (if I'd just train myself to put them there all the time)
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: Zabelle
Date: 10-04-2005, 08:22 AM (14 of 21)
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An inexpensive way to make a scissor protector is to purchase a potholder (with hanging loop). Fold it in half so the loop is at the fold. Sew from the outside corner (oposite the loop) to the opposite corner (catty-corner) to form a triangle. These make nice gifts or stocking stuffers for that special sewing friend. Hi Lin, and welcome on board! I love your idea! Both practical and cute!  Thanks for sharing.Thanks everyone for sharing your tips on taking care of our scissors, they're all so helpful. Isabelle English sewing journal: Kitty Couture
In French: Journal d'une cousette |
User: Zabelle
Member since: 02-25-2004 Total posts: 98 
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From: rac
Date: 10-04-2005, 09:33 AM (15 of 21)
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I have a wall mounted pegboard my husband made for my thread. On that, he put a holder we found at home depot. I think it is for screw drivers, it works perfect for putting your sewing scissors and shears point down in the round holders. (It protects the points) I also put some hooks on the bottom of the pegboard to hang my smaller scissors. Everyone knows my sewing things are off limits to them. RAC |
User: rac
Member since: 08-05-2005 Total posts: 1 |
From: MaryW
Date: 10-04-2005, 09:39 AM (16 of 21)
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Hi rac and welcome to Sew Whats New.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 10-04-2005, 11:16 AM (17 of 21)
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Mary, maybe this would be a good time to post the craft instructions I sent you a while ago for a Scissors Holder made from felt. ?? With the cute little verse.. Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: MariLynnTX
Date: 10-04-2005, 12:56 PM (18 of 21)
I brought all 28 pairs of scissors with me! They are one thing I cannot do without. I loved the potholder-to-scissors-protector idea...very good! I still hide my scissors from my grandchildren, now that my own are grown...well, I don't tell them where the scissors are, but I do occasionally let them borrow a pair, if they promise not to damage them. MariLynntx 
Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
From: gm23237
Date: 12-01-2005, 08:37 PM (19 of 21)
| I buy my scissors at Dollar tree so if the get messed up in the trash and backto Dollar Tree. |
User: gm23237
Member since: 11-03-2003 Total posts: 145 
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From: Amie
Date: 12-07-2005, 04:16 PM (20 of 21)
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I have my grandmother's scissors. I need to take them in and have them sharpened. About how much does that usually cost?
AMIEMama to Gavin, 3 ½ years oldKenmore 385.12116690
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User: Amie
Member since: 12-01-2005 Total posts: 21 
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From: LadySloPokes
Date: 12-08-2005, 02:31 PM (21 of 21)
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All of my fabric scissors and snips are kept in the top drawer of my sewing desk. When I first started this new adventure a year ago, I bought my new dressmakers scissors, and immediately proclaimed them Off Limits for anything except fabric cutting! Fortunately for me, my DH agreed and has not touched them once, except to hand them to me if I can't reach them in the middle of a project! My snips are always by my machine. I also have a brand new pack of fabric scissors w/small snips that I haven't opened yet as a back up if my present pair give me a problem.
Cookie
LadySlo...yes am I, but hey, I'm gettin' there! Are you sure it's supposed to look like this?! Proud owner of Singer Quantum Decor 7322 & Singer Quantum Futura CE 200.. "A balanced diet is having chocolate in both hands!" |
User: LadySloPokes
Member since: 08-15-2005 Total posts: 198
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