Hi
I have a stupid question about scissors and I'm sure that
you folks would have the answer. I'm new here and I hope that I'm in the
right aera for this question.

I do not sew or quilt, but I'm in love with someone who does.
My wife is away and I would like to get her a nice pair of scissors as
a surprise when she comes home.

I would like to know the difference between quilters scissors and
dressmakers scissors. I don't have a clue. Are the quilters sharper?
Is their something different about them. I can't tell from the pictures.

I was looking at Mundial Professional Quilters #1850 and Mundial
dressmakers shears #1860. Both are 8 1/2" and are the same price.
But whats the difference? Is that a good brand? Should I be looking at others?

She uses a dinky pair of scissors that are made in China.
She deserves better.
I would appreciate any ideas that you folks have.
And I thank you for your suggestions.

Walt

What a sweet hubby you are! :)

I have Kai scissors, both shears and thread snippers and I love them! The shears were a bit pricey, 99.00, but I don't regret getting them, they are a dream to cut with, like a knife through butter. :)

Hope that helps a bit.

That is a cool thing to do.

:)

I've never had "quilting scissors so I can't compare them with what I use. My big pair of scissors are Gingher scissors. My mother bought them for me a few years ago. I like them a lot....but I don't use scissors as much as I use my rotary cutter.

How sweet of you. I think most quilters do use the rotary cutter for cutting patches. When sewing the top, I generally keep a small pair of embroidery scissors for clipping threads near the machine. I have the Gingher dressmaker shears for other sewing projects. After 12 years, they still cut through fabric like butter.

I also use Gingher and love them.

I put scissor information under thisthread check it out
http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/15/9188.page

Thank you all so much. This is very helpfull.

Now I will proceed to go crazy deciding between your suggestions.
I never heard of Kai or Ginghers before. They look good also.

When I was a kid my mother used a pair of Wiss scissors
and a Singer sewing machine. This is a new era.

I know that I'm going to buy more than one pair.
Maybe a thread snipper also. (I never knew what they were before)

I think that if you buy quality items, it is cheaper in the long run.
Thanks again. I'll be checking back with you all.

Walt

Here is another thought.
She has a small plastic box that she keeps her
sewing "stuff" in.

I was thinking of a sewing basket of some kind.
Are their companies that specialise in sewing baskets?
Somthing on the small to medium side?

Am I driving you all crazy with these questions?

I owe you all a Pizza.

Walt

We will take you up on that pizza! Do you deliver??
I have almost every make and design of scissors made. I prefer my Fiscars ergonomically correct. They have gray padded handles. I have the 8" and the snippers. They are extremely sharp and light weight.
If you have a Joann's near you, they carry all brands plus every sewing basket known to man.

My weiss scissors (shiny black handles) are my all time favorites, but have a pair of Fiscar's from ages ago that I like alot too (padded gray handles). I need them sharpened, but instead I just bought a new pair of Fiscars with my 40% coupon from Michaels and they cut like hot butter! My ginghers are too heavy (plain silver).

I love my Ginghers - I also am fond of my rotary cutting equpiment.

If she doesn't have that, you might consider setting her up with that.

How about you go to a quilt shop - ask some questions - then buy a gift certificate to JoAnn's with a WHAT TO GET WITH IT note attached so she can get the items on sale -

I think it depends on the size of her hands and what kind of fabrics she works with.

I don't know if Michaels carries the Gingher line.

Anyway, you sound like a sweetie.

PIZZA??
Did someone mention food???

Hi there, this is a very nice thought. One thing to consider about the scissors, do her hands ever cause her pain when she's been doing lots of sewing cutting or anything for that matter? If that's the case the best scissors wouldn't been scissors at all but instead sheers. These have a spring inside that causes them to spring open thereby are much less fatigueing to use. Fiskars soft touch are recommended by the Arthritis Foundation and I have found them to be much more comfortable to use than scissors. These are less expensive than others listed but they do come with a lifetime warranty if anything goes wrong. The Fiskars line also has a small pair for clipping threads.

As for a sewing box, look for something bigger than she has, ideally something with internal compartments to hold things like needles, buttons, ect.

Good thought. Her hands are ok so far.

Glad to hear it, :) the first time I went scissor shopping I told my dh I told him flat out I didn't want those crazy scissors with the spring! ;) Needless to say those pretty ones without the spring went back within the week and I got down to research.

About how big is her sewing box now?

It's really kind of small.
But I found when looking around (spying) that
she has 3 plastic boxes.
I might find more if I keep looking.
I'm not gonna look any more.

I think that I might let her get her own sewing basket..........

In our household, I would really prefer a gift certificate with a "category" of what I'm supposed to get.

I have so much of everything in the sewing/quilting category, that I frequently end up just looking - even when things are on sale!

I won't buy tools for my husband - he's picky - and if he sends me out to buy a part or whatever, I have him either give me a screw or whatever and then go to the store person and ask for help - or write down the part number.

Then, if it's wrong - - - - -

You could go shopping together - see what catches her eye - - -

(Although if MY husband offered to go fabric/quilt store shopping WITH me, I might suffer a heart attack from surprise!)

I found a cute quote: "Going shopping with your husband is like going hunting with the game warden". Therefore, my husband doesn't go to the fabric shop with me! Although he is great about oohing and aahing over my projects. Bet you are too, Wally!

Yeaaa

She doesn't want me around when she goes shopping for things that
I have no interest in.

Can't blame her.

I have been a seamstress/quilter for about 40 years. I swear by Gingher scissors. I have several pair. I have 2 - 8-1/2" dressmakers; applique, embroidery scissors. One thing about this company is that when the blades get dull, you can send them back to the factory and for a nominal fee, they will resharpen them. They come back in like brand new condition.

You will also need to make sure that you are getting scissors for right or left handed people. This is important as the blades are different.

Good luck and what a wonderful gift.

She has 3 small ones

my hands are only 37 years old and I wouldn't trade my spring action shears for anything. Even though I use my rotary blade almost exclusively when I quilt, I love my 8 1/2 in. spring action Fiskars because I do trim the seams and do some free hand cutting of larger shapes for applique or when I am doing home dec sewing. They are really easy to use and my hands don't get tired.

Regarding the sewing box, my fav sewing box is a tackle box! I have a smaller tackle box so the inside is not a huge vast cavern. :-) They are relatively inexpensive, have lots of smaller coompartments and come in lots of sizes. Joanns does have "tackle" boxes for sewing and other crafts, but they are a lot more expensive and don't seem to have the room.

You are a wonderful hubby!

I keep thinking about the tackle box. That is a great idea. When she gets back I'm going to take her to Ray's Sport Shop.
They have a wide varity of fishing equiptment.

That spring action sissors sounds good also.
I might just do that.

Thanks for the ideas, all are good.

Are you gonna just take her to the store without telling her why? Show her the tackle boxes and ask her to pick one out? I'd love to see the baffled look on her face, then one when she realized why! :mrgreen:

I won't tell her why. We have shoped their before.
She will think we are shoping for cloths or presents for the kids.