Pinking Shears...
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,503
I gave my pinking shears still in their original box to my sister. I have a pinking blade for my rotary cutter that works great for me. Think I got it on Nancy's Notions a number of years ago. I don't use it much but when I do, it works great especially for those fabrics that fray so badly.
#12
I own two pairs of pinking shears. My first pair was a larger pair that were cumbersome for my small hands. I fellow board member her gifted me a smaller pair which I use all the time. I keep the larger pair in the box they came in since they were a gift from my Aunt who has since passed.
I do like the look of the edge it leaves when doing raw edge applique.
I do like the look of the edge it leaves when doing raw edge applique.
#14
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,666
I remember that we used pinking shears to cut apart our school pictures to trade them with friends.
(1946-1959)
Also for cutting aup Christmas cards to turn them into gift tags.
Really not impressed with using pinking shears to "finish" seams any more. I think it gives clothing a very "home-made" look. Plus, after many washes the seam allowances fray eventually.
French seams, flat felled, bound, serged - all look nicer to me.
My Mom's pinking shears were pretty much off limits to me.
And how did one get them sharpehed?
(1946-1959)
Also for cutting aup Christmas cards to turn them into gift tags.
Really not impressed with using pinking shears to "finish" seams any more. I think it gives clothing a very "home-made" look. Plus, after many washes the seam allowances fray eventually.
French seams, flat felled, bound, serged - all look nicer to me.
My Mom's pinking shears were pretty much off limits to me.
And how did one get them sharpehed?
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 807
I remember that we used pinking shears to cut apart our school pictures to trade them with friends.
(1946-1959)
Also for cutting aup Christmas cards to turn them into gift tags.
Really not impressed with using pinking shears to "finish" seams any more. I think it gives clothing a very "home-made" look. Plus, after many washes the seam allowances fray eventually.
French seams, flat felled, bound, serged - all look nicer to me.
My Mom's pinking shears were pretty much off limits to me.
And how did one get them sharpehed?
(1946-1959)
Also for cutting aup Christmas cards to turn them into gift tags.
Really not impressed with using pinking shears to "finish" seams any more. I think it gives clothing a very "home-made" look. Plus, after many washes the seam allowances fray eventually.
French seams, flat felled, bound, serged - all look nicer to me.
My Mom's pinking shears were pretty much off limits to me.
And how did one get them sharpehed?
We had a wonderful scissor and knife sharpening place in town for years, and the ownder did a wonderful job with sharpening, however, he closed up a number of years and no one has since replaced him or filled the niche.
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 4,842
Leslie
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2022
Location: Northeast
Posts: 682
I just purchased a pair of pinking shears - stainless steel. But man, they are so hard to use, I can't even open them or close them with one hand, like you would cut with a pair of scissors. How do you loosen them up. I can't think of the brands that they are, but I had purchased a pair a few months ago as well, and they are the same way. They are both supposed to be good brands.
I used to have a pair that was my mom's and they worked fine. Easy to use, sharp. I lost track of them years ago. Have today's brands changed that much! I can't even use either pair I have with them this way.
Looking forward to some suggestions.
I used to have a pair that was my mom's and they worked fine. Easy to use, sharp. I lost track of them years ago. Have today's brands changed that much! I can't even use either pair I have with them this way.
Looking forward to some suggestions.
Last edited by quiltsfor; 11-19-2023 at 02:58 AM.
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 807
Lovely additions to this conversation!
The ones I have were my moms, and were made to last forever. So heavy and still sharp.
To Quiltsfor: Have you tried easing the srew that holds the blades together and adding a drop of mineral oil where the screw sits?
My husband did that to a pair of scissors I have and what a difference it made. They cut with the greatest of ease now.
The ones I have were my moms, and were made to last forever. So heavy and still sharp.
To Quiltsfor: Have you tried easing the srew that holds the blades together and adding a drop of mineral oil where the screw sits?
My husband did that to a pair of scissors I have and what a difference it made. They cut with the greatest of ease now.