Cutting & Measuring
Fabric Shears
Fabric shears are designed to be used with the lower blade flat on the table and the fabric lifted into the upper blade. The bent handle lets your hand clear the table so the cloth never leaves the surface, which is what keeps a long cut straight. The blade is set at a shallow angle to slice rather than chop, and a good pair can be sharpened for decades.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Blade length | 8 - 10 in (20 - 25 cm) |
| Handle | Bent, for table-flat cutting |
| Steel | High-carbon stainless, forged |
| Hand | Right- or left-handed, not convertible |
| Weight | 200 - 350 g |
| Edge | Bevel or knife-edge, sharpenable |
Technical parameters
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pivot | Adjustable screw, keeps tension |
| Blade angle | Shallow, for slicing |
| Cut length | Up to the full blade in one stroke |
| Sharpening | Professional, or a diamond file |
| Life | Decades if not abused |
| Reserve | One pair for fabric only |
Safety
Shears are sharp enough to cut through several layers at once, including a finger. Keep the hand holding the fabric behind the blade line, never in front of it, and never pass them by the blades. Store them closed, ideally in a sheath.
What it is for
Bent-handle shears that keep the fabric flat on the table while the blade cuts. The tool a tailor buys once and keeps for thirty years.
Compatible fabrics
Compatible stitches
Working notes
- Keep one pair for fabric only — cutting paper destroys the edge.
- Cut with the lower blade flat on the table and the fabric lifted into the upper blade.
- Long, continuous strokes give a straighter edge than short chops.
- Have them professionally sharpened rather than grinding them yourself.
Related tools
Rotary Cutter
A rolling circular blade that cuts multiple layers at once and needs a mat underneath. Fast, accurate, and unforgiving of fingers.
Cutting Mat
A self-healing mat that protects the table and the blade, printed with a grid for squaring up.
Quilting Ruler
A thick acrylic ruler with a printed grid and angle lines, used as the guide for a rotary cutter.