Fabric Scissors, Shears and Pinking Shears
Shears are 10 inches or longer with one small and one large handle, scissors are shorter with matching handles, and pinking shears zigzag to slow fraying.
By Elliana SmithContributing writer.
On this page
The short answer
For sewing you usually want three cutting tools:
- Shears for cutting out pattern pieces.
- Small scissors for trimming threads and tight spots.
- Pinking shears for finishing raw edges.
The cutting tools guide on Sewing.org draws the line between the first two by size and handle shape, not by sharpness.
Dressmaker shears vs scissors
| Scissors | Shears | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Under 10 inches | 10 inches or longer |
| Handles | Two matching rings | One round ring for the thumb, one longer ring for two or more fingers |
| Typical use | Trimming, clipping, small pieces | Long cuts through fabric |
The same guide says home sewers tend to prefer 10 inch shears with a bent handle, and professional dressmakers and tailors often choose a heavier 12 inch pair.
Spring-action shears with soft, padded handles suit right or left hands, and the guide points them to people with arthritis or other hand concerns. Left-handed and ambidextrous models exist too.
Fabric scissors vs regular scissors
Many sewists keep one pair for fabric only, and paper is the usual reason. In a roundup of scissor makers and sharpeners by Threads Monthly, a sharpening service said paper blunts fabric scissors, and others pointed to the fibers and fine minerals in paper wearing the edge over time. A Fiskars and Gingher representative quoted there put it more mildly: every material dulls blades, and synthetic fabrics such as denim, nylon and polyester wear them faster than light natural fibers.
The practical rule follows from both views: label your fabric shears, keep a cheap pair for paper patterns, and have the good pair professionally sharpened when the cut starts to chew.
What pinking shears are used for
Pinking shears have notched or scalloped blades that leave a zigzag edge. Sewing.org lists three uses:
- Slowing fraying on raw edges and seam allowances.
- Grading (trimming) seam allowances.
- Adding a decorative edge to fabrics that do not fray, such as polar fleece.
Pinking shears are sold by tooth size. Of the 64 pinking shears listed on Wiki Shopping on October 26, 2026, 26 state one: 14 have 5 mm teeth, 6 have 3 mm and 6 have 7 mm.
Other cutting tools
- Micro-serrated shears suit thin, sheer or slippery fabric.
- Coated shears resist sticky adhesives.
- Rotary cutters roll through fabric like a pizza cutter and need a cutting mat underneath.
The guide also suggests trying a pair in your hand before you buy, to find the weight and size that suit you.
How we count
Tooth size is read from each pinking shears listing. Listings that do not state it are left out of that count, and counts change as listings are added or removed. Sewing tools sit in the arts, crafts and sewing department.