I have a Viking Designer I USB Emb Machine & the package came with a pair or the 3 3/4th inch curved tip scissors. My son broke them cutting a tennis ball (urrrrrrrrr), so I ordered 2 pairs off a site on eBay made in Pakistan. They were $3.95 plus S&H. They are great & I've used mine over last two years for trimming around applique and areas where the thread needs to be cut very close. It's great when taking out stitching (my little booboo's), so I vote for having a pair around.

I do a lot of appliqueing and mine are Fiskars. I use them a lot and paid $35.00 for them. Yhey are worth every penny I paid. I have about a half dozen or so "cheap" ones and they couldn't cut hot butter. Good quality scissors will stay sharp forever.

Duckbill applique scissors
 

[QUOTE=amma;430995]I use manicure scissors for those little, precise cuts! I think the applique scissors I have seen are also called "duck billed" and they are used for cutting away fabric when you are doing "cut away" applique. You sew multiple layers of fabric and cut away different layers to get at the specific fabrics in certain areas. They keep you from cutting into the layers below the one you are trying to cut. clear as mud, huh??? Not sure which kind you are talking about for sure.[/QUOTE

I could sure use a size smaller than 6" duckbill. Does anyone know of any smaller, like maybe 4" with a smaller duckbill? I am doing some applique on T-shirts and need to get closer to the stitching to trim away than the 6" will let me.

If you feel comfortable spending $28 for applique scissors. then do it. It is alot of money, maybe shop on Ebay or the internet for a better price. It is my experience that when I "get something I like for the best price", it helps me justify the expense.

I bought one pair for 22 and then another small pair with sharp points that curve up slightly. They make trimming applique and embroidery so much easier because I can get closer which is really important; to get close without cutting stitches. To be honest I use them more in embroiderying or doing a combination of both on the machine. When I was doing hand applique I just used small sharp scissors. I can't see spending a fortune. I don't know how much I spent for my small ones but I know it was under 10.