Okay, remember when we were all taught to use pinking shears in home ec class? Does anybody ever use them anymore? I'm curious. I don't even think they sell them anymore, do they?

I have a pair from my mom (50 years ago), never use them. Also a wood darning egg with handle.

Yes, they still sell them. I use mine to trim the ends of my fabric before I wash it (prevents all those 'strings').

There are rotary cutter blades that pink the edges. I don't use them, but someone must or the wouldn't still be for sale.

Still use my 20 yr. old pinking shears! They still sell them.

I still use mine and often. Like to "pink" around the quilt before attaching the binding. Also have grandmom's, mom's and two of my own.

I have 2 pair my Maws pair Whites and another pair love the whites still use them alot.

I use mine when I piece my backings. I trim the seam with pinking shears so it doesn't ravel. I also use the pinking shears with flannel for the same reason.
I have one of those rotary cutter blades that does the pinking, but I like the cut I get better with the shears.

Yes, they do still sell them...though I think they are used more by garment sewers instead of quilters. I use mine occasionally...have a sewing pair and a crafting pair for paper. I also have a gadget called the Florian Pinker that was my mother-in-law's that does the same thing but with a rolling gear and blade...they still work great and are fun to use.

I have a few old pars from rummage sales. I use them mostly for making clothes though!

I also use mine to trim the edges of my fabric before washing, it keeps it from unraveling

I have a really nice pear of Pinking Shears but haven't used them much. Thanks everyone for the tips of using them. :thumbup:

I've never seen or heard of a wood darning egg so that might be interesting to see.

I had a wonderful chrome pair for years and wore them out. They still work and I gave them to my daughter. I bought another pair with orange handles. They work much better than my original pair. I still sew clothes, so I still use them.
I made the 3 dresses, vest, and tie for this past Christmas for my daughter's family. It was a double knit, so the pinked edges was pretty much necessary. I don't use pinking shears for quilting.

This is a darning egg. I've had it for years and used it once or twice. I'm not a good darner.

I just took mine out yesterday. Good timing! One of the quilters said she pinks around the curved edges so she doesn't have to snip. I thought I would try it on one of my projects. I'll stay tuned to see what everyone uses them for!

Yes, I do and I do. DH bought mine for me a year or so ago and do use them!

That's a good idea!
I'm going to try that too.

I use pinking to trim curves for applique instead of snipping up to the stitch line, and cutting raw edge rick rack from fabric. I had a pair sharpened and the so called 'expert' of 25 years of scissor sharpening made the scissors so dull they won't cut air. DH worked on the pair for many hours sharpening and declared if they got dull again buy a new pair. LOL.

Same here. My DSIL gave them to me for Christmas one year and I use them to trim the ends of the fabric before washing.

this is the most stunning darning egg I have ever seen...I collect them...if you ever want to part with it, let me know!

I have 3 or 4 pinking shears...different sizes...love and use them all....

I have never liked pinking shears, so don't use them, but they still do sell them, so someone must use them. LOL

I still use mine and they are left-handed shears, that way
I can truthfully say, OH Dear, sorry, you are right handed, they won't work for you. I learned a long time ago not to loan
out pinking shears. My friend didn't even know she had wrecked them.

Have pinking shears and a darning egg. Use the pinking shears to cut corners on fabric before washing to prevent raveling threads.

That is a beautiful darning egg! I have a few (yes, I use them LOL) but nothing as lovely as yours!

I have a huge pair of Gingher pinkers and I can barely maneuver them. Too heavy and too bulky.

I use my pinking sheers for applique when I follow El Burns' method of stitching the pieces to fusible interfacing. It also good for trimming curved seams before pressing, since it eliminates the need to clip, which can result in an uneven curve.

I use mine mostly for projects using felt, like gingerbread men, etc.

The last jelly roll I purchased was cut with very tiny pinking shears (cutters).

Yes I have them and I use them, mostly for curved pieces.

I have several pairs. Some cut sharp points and some cut round scallops. I use them for art quilts, both for the quilt edges and for raw edge appliqué. (also have a collection of darning eggs ;) )

Oh, now aren't they a handsome family. I love the red. So Christmasey.

I'm going to try this too!!

I gave up the pinking shears when I bought my serger. Mom still has hers, but she hasn't used them in years. My serger is set up and collecting dust from the infrequency that it is used though. I reserve that for garments.

I occassionly use my pinking shears and just bought a pinking attachment for my Featherweights. I haven't used it yet, but thought it was a novelty and the price was right on Ebay.

I use my pinking shears to cut out circles so I don't have to snip all around to turn under.

I use my pinking shears all the time. I have 2 pair, one I bought myself years ago and a pair my mom gave me that I used when learning to sew oh-so-many-years-ago. I don't pink everything but usually do with cottons or other fabrics that will easily fray. I've not used them on any quilts but if I were to do another Memory Quilt I certainly would! Once the squares got out of my hands, they were handled buy a lot of folks and several came back very frayed...not unusable but it got trickey there on one or two squares. Of course, I'd do a lot of things different if I was to do another one!

I still use pinking shears occasionally for sewing clothing. I rarely use them in quilting. I do have 3 pair of the black handled pinks in different sizes that I hang on the wall.

lol They do sell them still but if you don't sew on fabric like satin or a fabric that tends to fray I don't think you would have a use for them unless you cut fabric to embellish a quilt with that edge. I make satin sashes and yes I use them .