Thanks for all of your suggestions. I don't believe that it is because they are spring loaded as I use 2 other fiskar spring loaded scissors for other things and love them. I have a pair of spring loaded that are similar to the ones that Tartan purchased at Walmart but I love that these have a shorter blade so I don't get thru the stitching with them. I do try to split up my snipping in place of doing it all at once but these still aggrevate my hand and arm. I have been wanting to try the Heritage ones, just hate to spend that much on a pair of scissors.