By Julie on February 25th, 2020 This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
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If you are new to machine embroidery and perhaps on the cusp of trying your first appliqué project on your embroidery machine… STOP. DO NOT PASS GO. DO NOT COLLECT $200. Before you do any appliqué project, you should be sure to have a pair of appliqué scissors on hand. But, what are appliqué scissors, you may wonder?
Appliqué scissors are medium-size scissors with a weird duckbill on one blade. They are specifically designed to trim appliqué fabric after you have stitched it down, and before sewing over the raw edges of the appliqué fabric with a final satin stitch. The unique design of the these scissors allows you to trim very close to the stitching line without cutting a hole in your base fabric.
If you are doubting me that a lousy pair of scissors will make a difference in the outcome of your project, stop reading this now and go try to trim your appliqué fabric with a regular pair of scissors.
So… you’re back. It sucked, right? This is why you need them if you are doing to do appliqué on your embroidery machine. Fortunately they are cheap and readily available. For a minimal investment in a pair of appliqué scissors, your appliqué project will look soooo much more polished. And your trimming will be a lot easier.
How to use appliqué scissors
The proper way to use appliqué scissors is to insert the duck bill side of the blade between the fabric you want to cut and the fabric underneath that will remain uncut. This enables you to cut the appliqué fabric close to the placement stitching without inadvertently cutting the fabric underneath. The duck bill will be underneath the pointed blade with the duck bill between the appliqué fabric and the background fabric and the pointed blade on top of the appliqué fabric.
To ensure a close cut, I often pull on my appliqué fabric just a bit while I am making the trim. Gently pulling the fabric away allows me to trim very close to the stitching.
What are the best appliqué scissors?
Gingher
Ginghers are my all-time favorite brand of scissors. I have had my regular Gingher scissors for over 20 years and they are still going strong. And I love my Gingher appliqué scissors just as much. But, if you don’t want to spend that much money on a pair of scissors, there are plenty of other alternatives
Random Amazon brands
You can find a variety of appliqué scissors with different brand names on Amazon that are a bit cheaper than Ginghers. And, they are not all bad. In fact, I have had a Pakistani company send me samples of their appliqué scissor and I was surprised how well they performed. Coincidentally many of the brands that are selling appliqué scissors under different brand names look just like what I was sent. (My suspicion is that someone is importing them and reselling them on Amazon.). Anyway – you can see that they are much cheaper than Ginghers. So, why not give them a try? You can always return them.
How do cheap brands compare to their more expensive counterparts?
I own two pairs of appliqué scissors (Ginghers and Walmart brand) and the difference between the cheap ones and the more expensive ones is pretty obvious. My cheap Walmart ones cost less than $15 and my nicer ones are Ginghers which cost about $25.
The more expensive Gingher applique scissors are on the left.
Just by looking at the two different pairs you can see a lot of differences. The Ginghers are heavier, and are held together with a more heavy duty screw. The Ginghers also have a sharper blade which you can clearly see in the picture.
The cheap ones are simply not as sharp as the Ginghers. This can be a good thing, however. I find that because my Ginghers are so sharp, I can unintentionally cut holes in my base fabric. The dull appliqué scissors require a bit more effort to make a cut and therefore are less likely to make unintentional holes in my project. I also seem to be able to get into tighter corners with the cheaper pair.
The downside to the cheaper version is that they can start to hurt your hands after a lot of use. This is because cutting with the cheapies requires a bit more hand strength.
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How to make trimming appliqué easier
Trimming the appliqué fabric can be a whole lot easier if you take certain measures when preparing the appliqué fabric. If you fuse some HeatnBond Lite onto the back of the appliqué fabric, it makes trimming the appliqué fabric much easier. In addition, the HeatnBond Lite prevents the appliqué fabric from fraying.
In addition, if you gently pull the appliqué fabric up and away from the placement stitching as you trim the fabric, you can get a closer cut to the placement stitching line.
A pair of curved blade scissors can be super useful for trimming around curved areas.
A tiny pair of nippers such as the Snip-Eze from Hazel can help you trim appliqué fabric in tiny spaces.
A double curve pair of scissors is super versatile. The unique angle plus the curve of the scissors can come in handy when you have to do some awkward trimming.
How to avoid trimming appliqué altogether
One technique favored by many machine embroidery enthusiasts is pre-cutting the appliqué fabric. This can be done on a Cricut or any type of die cutting machine. The only caveat is that the placement of your appliqué fabric must be spot on so that the final satin stitching covers the raw edge of your appliqué. I personally don’t do this but I know people swear by this technique. But, it might just be the perfect excuse to buy yourself a Cricut!
Frequently asked questions about appliqué scissors
What are duck bill scissors? How do they differ from appliqué scissors?
Duck bill scissors are just another name for appliqué scissors. They differ from regular scissors because one blade looks like a semi-circle and the other looks like a more typical scissor blade. You use them to trim appliqué fabric close to the stitching without cutting through the base fabric underneath.
What are Pelican scissors? How do they differ from appliqué scissors?
Pelican scissors are another name for appliqué scissors.
Do I need to buy a separate pair of appliqué scissors or can I just use my regular fabric scissors for trimming appliqué?
You definitely need a dedicated pair of appliqué scissors. They are designed specifically for trimming appliqué fabric close to the base fabric without cutting through the base fabric.
What is the difference between appliqué scissors and detail scissors?
Detail scissors are designed to cut small details in fabric and usually have very sharp, fine blades. Appliqué scissors have one blade that is shaped like a semi-circle which allows you to get close to the appliqué stitching without cutting through the base fabric.
How often should I sharpen my appliqué scissors?
You should sharpen them every few months or as needed. You’ll know it’s time to sharpen them when they start to feel dull and you have to use more effort to make a cut.
How do I sharpen my appliqué scissors
Wet a sharpening stone with water and hold the scissors at a 20-degree angle to the stone. Use circular motions to sharpen the blades. You can also use a sharpening steel made specifically for scissors. Follow the same process as you would with a sharpening stone.
Can I use my appliqué scissors on other fabrics?
Yes! They can be used on a variety of fabrics. I will use them in a pinch on just about anything. Of course, if I’m making a long cut, I will use regular scissors.
What is the best way to store appliqué scissors?
When not in use, you should store your appliqué scissors in a safe place where they won’t get lost or damaged. A good option is to keep them in their original packaging or in a small pouch. I personally use my appliqué scissors so frequently that the best way for me to store mine are in a place where I can easily find them again!
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