Tartan

If you want to invest in a pair that lasts then Gingher or Fiskars are good brands. You can look for coupons for Joann or Michaels and get them. I just have a few pairs of thread snips that I use most often. I had my son pick them up for me in the fishing aisle at Cabella or Basspro? I forget which one but they are made for cutting fishing line for fly casting and they cut thread well and were inexpensive.

Jan in VA

Ginghers, beyond doubt. Send your Gingher scissors off to Ginghers in NC for sharpening, when/if they need it, for about $5, and they will return them post haste in great shape. Much better than having ones scissors sharpened at the local sewing store. I've done mine about 3 times in the last 20 years' great experience each time.

Jan in VA

BellaBoo

I have Ginghers for household use and they are very good and stay sharp. The ones DH uses still cuts as good as the ones in my sewing room. And they aren't expensive, under $20 at Amazon. The two scissors I use the most are the new batting scissors and Karen Buckley scissors. I have several baskets full of all brands of scissors in every size. Mondial is a good brand, Singer all metal scissors are good. Fanmore, Titatium are good but I have melted more of those by my iron. LOL. I like the Fiskars sold as office scissors. They are better then the ones sold in the notion aisle in my opinion. Clover makes nice scissor, Fons and Porter is a Clover brand. Also I found the $1.49 small dark gray handle scissors at Walmart are perfect by my machine and ironing table. My embroidery scissors are a whole different breed. Only Dovo brand for those.

PenniF

I'd also add - whichever brand you chose - invest in a good pair of embroidery sissors....the ones with the angled head. They are great for clipping of all those threads really close to your work. Love mine.
For myself....I wish i could find a pair of "mini" pinking shears - the regular ones are all so "heavy" that with my hand problems it is so painful to use them. Anyone ever seen minis ???

donnajean

Ditto to Gingher!
I have been using my Gingher dressmaker sheers since the 60's. I use less expensive scissors for applique as I use Stem A Seam fusible.

sweetana3

If you can find Kai scissors, we use them to do heavy duty cutting at our charity group. It is the only one where my hand does not get tired and they have cut for a year without an issue. Originally they were put out by Fons and Porter and ours had a red plastic handle. You might get them online. I actually like them better than my Ginghers.

Recently Connecting Threads was clearancing them and you might even get them straight from Kai. Or I also found the Fons and Porter ones on Ebay.

dunster

I bought a bunch of different Kai scissors from the Kai website. I love them! I've recently seen Kai at quilt shows as well.

irishrose

I do like my pink Mondial scissors, too.

The fleece: When I worked at JoAnn's we found that the tight knit of the polyester all but ate the edge off the Fiskars which was corporate's preferred brand for us to use. I marked several pair with a ribbon with fleece printed on it on instructed my staff to use only those for fleece and related fabrics. That took care of the problem with scissors too dull to cut the quilting fabrics. When my Fiskars at home were missing recently, I bought dollar store scissors rather than touch my Ginghers or Mondials to fleece.

The other reason I don't care for Fiskars is the thick blade makes exact cutting more difficult, but that may be an apparel thing.

Replace them: Definitely! My husband and young son used my dressmaker Ginghers in the tackle box while I was at the Mayo Clinic. Have you ever seen a pair of metal scissors soaked in brine? My husband looked like this guy when he found out the replacement price.

LynnVT

I was raised Ginghers by my mom who made everybody's dresses, gowns and wedding gowns, Halloween costumes, etc. Sadly I couldn't inherit hers because she was left handed, so they went to someone else. I bought mine at Michael's with a coupon after getting tired of cheaper ones. Some Fiskars are good for some things. I have a little set of three sizes I got at JoAnn's a while back in a cute little case. They are good for smaller uses.

momto5

Ginghers are my favorite....I have every style and size they make, and wouldn't give them up for any other that I can think of, including Kai (I have a pair of these and don't really like them...).