Sharpen Your Fabric Scissors Like a Pro

I have to admit; I have a house full of scissors of all kinds. From low-end fabric scissors for teaching kids’ fabric arts classes, to paper scissors dating back before my son was even born (who is now 30!), several pairs of fabric shears, and even kitchen scissors for cutting open meat. I guess you could say I have a bit of a scissor obsession!

The Importance of Sharp Scissors

But, with all these scissors, I’ve learned the importance of keeping them sharp. Dull scissors can be frustrating and even dangerous.

Have you ever tried to cut fabric and not be able to control what’s being cut? You could miss and cut inward toward the pattern, or get choppy lines. It is not fun.

Preparing Your Scissors for Sharpening

First things first, you’ll need to oil the screw with a drop of sewing machine oil. You don’t need to separate the scissors at the screw to do a good job, but it’s important to keep the screw lubricated for the scissors to operate smoothly.

The Sharpening Process

Now, onto the sharpening process. The key is that you will not be holding the set of fabric shears in the air and whittling away at them with a tool. We recommend a diamond cut sharpener which should be carefully placed on a level and clean surface.

Scissors obviously have 2 blades. On each blade there is a tiny beveled edge at the edge that does the cutting. It is normally like 1/16th of an inch or so. That is our focus to sharpen. The back side is to be completely flat.

Now, this is where it gets tricky. The angle for the beveled edge is different from the rest of the blade, so it’s essential to get it right. Some people mark the beveled edge with a marker. When you sharpen the blade, you can easily see if you’ve missed or unevenly sharpened the beveled edge.

Recommended Resources for Sharpening Your Scissors

The exact angle is tricky and that is why we are simply directing you to a Youtube video for this lesson. We did the research and found this instruction was the best.

For those of you who would like to see a more detailed demonstration, we recommend checking out this YouTube video: This video provides a step-by-step guide on how to sharpen your scissors correctly, and it’s an excellent resource for those who are new to the process.

Additionally, if you’re looking to purchase a sharpening stone, we recommend checking out this one on Amazon. This Whetstone Knife Sharpener is an excellent choice for sharpening your fabric scissors and other tools in your home.

Remember, a sharp pair of scissors is crucial for any sewing or crafting project. With a little bit of practice and attention to detail, you’ll be able to keep all of your scissors sharp and ready to use. Happy crafting!

Marjorie Vaudreuil

HI. I'M MARGIE I love creating and creations of all kinds! I love Jesus, I love my family and I love to teach! That's what makes life exciting for me and that is why I have so much to share with you. I am founder and owner of SewingPatternSecrets LLC, based in Boston, MA. I am a writer and an avid sewist with a background in fine art and design from New England School of Art and Design, Boston. Sewing Patterns Secrets was conceived with my husband (my #1 supporter), inspired partly from my grandmother, but largely inspired by my mother, who passed in 2017. She supported many decades of my artistry, including, but not limited to, sewing. Whilst my mother was indeed, an important benefactor, my husband has unfailingly supported all of my endeavours and is the Director of Sales. As the Product and Project Director, I conceptualized, developed, produced, tested, and edited all of the 125+ curated sewing patterns, instructions and ebooks, using my decades of experience. I managed a team of fashion designers to help me with the 3D software and production. I and three other master seamstresses, vector artists, graphic designers, and one amazing fashion illustrator. Production took two solid years of detail and hard work and another six months of sales funnel creation. I give thanks to: Fer, Rima, Oksana, Debbie, Kathreen, Suanne, Elizabeth, Jacki, Bronwen, Kimberly, and the many others who contributed. As such, I am gifted with the ability to share with you my expertise and everything that I have learned along the way, as relates not only sewing, but to project and product creation and all areas of design: web, graphic, fashion, pattern and product creation. This would include 10s of software, marketing and SEO tools, affiliate marketing and so much more. All you have to do is ask! In addition to writing all of the ebooks for Sewing Pattern Secrets, I am also the main writer of this blog, but looking for other (Human) sewing bloggers who would like to partner with us. We welcome guest bloggers, vloggers, influencers and also an invitation to blog for you as well. We always want your advice and we also want to hear from you regarding ideas and improvements to our blog, product, or advertising. PLEASE COMMENT. Please do write me at support@sewingpatternsecrets.com. Blessings, Margie "Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you." 1 Thessalonians 4:11 www.sewingpatternsecrets.com/vsl www.thesewingbuzz.com www.marjorievaudreuildesigns.com www.buysewingpatternsonline.com (coming soon)