I have my grandmother's pinking shears and they will cut fabric but it was slow going. I got a new pair stuck in my Christmas stocking a few years ago. I never opened the package thinking they would be the same as my old pair. I couldn't find my pinking shears for a fast cut so I opened the new package. What a difference! The new pinking shears cut through the fabric in one cut and each pink a sharp edge, no fraying at all. And the new pair was much lighter in weight. I retired my grandmother's pair as decoration. I'll use the new ones.