A Guide to Embroidery Scissors: What to Look For
Embroidery scissors look like a small, simple tool, but the right pair makes a genuine difference to fine needlework - and the wrong pair makes delicate work needlessly frustrating. Here's what actually matters when choosing a pair, and the surprisingly long history behind one of the most recognisable designs in the category.
What Makes a Good Pair
Size. Embroidery scissors are deliberately small - typically under 12cm - built for precision rather than power. A full-size pair of scissors is too clumsy for trimming threads close to fabric or working in tight spaces.
Blade sharpness and taper. A fine, tapered blade lets you snip a single thread cleanly without catching the surrounding fabric. Blunt or overly wide blades tend to fray thread ends rather than cut them cleanly.
Weight and balance. A well-made pair sits comfortably in the hand for repeated, precise use over long stretches of stitching. Cheaper scissors often feel light and imprecise by comparison - a small difference that becomes very noticeable over an evening of needlework.
Material. Look for high carbon steel or gold-plated brass over softer metals - both hold an edge properly and stay sharp through regular use, rather than dulling quickly.
The Story Behind Stork Scissors
If you've ever seen a pair of bird-shaped embroidery scissors, you've likely seen a version of the stork scissors design - one of the most recognisable and enduring shapes in sewing history. The design dates back generations, with the long beak forming the blades and the body forming the handles, and it remains one of the most sought-after styles among needleworkers and collectors today.
Our Gold Rooster Scissors sit within this same tradition - a bird-shaped design finished in 24k gold, finely engraved, and built for the same fine, detailed cutting the original design was known for.
Choosing the Right Pair for Your Craft
For general embroidery and cross stitch: a small, sharp, precisely tapered pair - the Silhouette Gold or Steel Grey Arabesque scissors are built for exactly this kind of fine, repeated work.
For a decorative piece that's also genuinely useful: the Gold Rooster Scissors bring the charm of the traditional stork design with a distinctly luxurious finish.
For general craft and sewing beyond embroidery specifically: the Gold Sewing Scissors offer a slightly larger, more versatile cut while still finished to the same high standard.
Caring for a Good Pair
Keep them dedicated to fabric and thread. Cutting paper with fabric scissors dulls the blade far faster than fabric alone - worth keeping a separate pair for paper if you craft across mediums.
Store them closed, ideally in a case or pouch. Loose blades knocking against other tools in a drawer is one of the quickest ways to dull a fine edge.
Wipe the blades occasionally. A slightly oiled cloth run along the blades now and then keeps them moving smoothly and helps prevent tarnish on gold-plated finishes.
The Most Important Thing
A good pair of embroidery scissors is a small investment that gets used constantly and rarely gets replaced - which makes it worth choosing properly the first time. Whether you're drawn to the practicality of a precise, well-balanced pair or the charm of a design with real history behind it, the right scissors make fine needlework genuinely more enjoyable.
Shop our full embroidery and craft scissors collection - fine Italian craftsmanship, 24k gold plated detailing. Free UK delivery on orders over £50.