Just as crucial as textiles are to sewing and garment making, so are scissors. They allow us to cut fabric that is as heavy as denim to fine silk georgette. Scissors are personal. Dressmaking or tailor's shears are forged from stainless or carbon steel, and are available in a variety of blade lengths from 20-30cm. Generally, the longer the scissor blade, the heavier the scissors will be, so it is best to purchase comfortable scissors in your hand. Professional scissor blades are curved which ensures that fabric is cut evenly and straight.
Scissor making is a skilled trade and to be a Scissorsymth a five-year apprenticeship is required to then be a ‘Putter-togetherer’ (yes this is the correct title!). The Putter-togetherer is the tradesperson who takes the scissors in their final stage of assembly and hammering the curve, making the scissors complete.
As with many industries, manufacturers have closed due to the competition of mass-produced items. The other challenge is the ageing tradespeople currently in these roles and finding new (younger and interested) apprentices to learn the craft and take over before these skillsets are lost. The Heritage Crafts register (2017) noted that in Sheffield in the UK today there are only two scissor makers still manufacturing. More below...
Ernest Wright https://www.ernestwright.co.uk/
William Whiteley & Sons https://www.whiteley.co.uk
https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/scissor-making/
How scissors are hand made-https://youtu.be/bK4AWtTV3h4
A good pair of dressmaking shears will last you a lifetime, and with care and professional sharpening now and again, this will keep your scissors in excellent condition.
Image: Selection of the authors' pinking, cutting shears and thread snips. Several are 30-40 years old and still in daily use.
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