Just about everywhere I look I am seeing very tiny scissors being recommended for needlework. They come in many versions. I’ve seen ones that are regular scissors made small, such as these petite scissors from Sullivan’s or from Nordic Needle. I’ve seen tiny folding scissors with brightly colored handles. There are foldable ones. And there are even ones called Grasshopper scissors, below, that you squeeze to cut.
Features and Drawbacks
The common characteristic of all these is that they are small, under 2.5″. The grasshopper scissors are even smaller, around 1″ long. They will fit easily into all your project bags. You might even keep them in your purse, glove compartment, and tote bag.
Are little scissors as good as they say?
The smaller size does make them great to keep with your projects. On the bad side, most of these scissors have small finger holes, so they are difficult for many to use. Because I have this problem, I tried the Sullivan’s scissors pictured at the top of the article. The holes may look large in proportion to the short blades, but in reality they are about the same size are the holes in standard scissors.
These scissors all have very short blades. If you use your project scissors to cut skeins to stitching length, you will have a problem. The blades do not open wide enough for larger skeins, even pearl cotton. You will need to cut skeins with a different pair of scissors or prior to adding them to your project bag.
Expense is another consideration. Some stitchers prefer expensive scissors, others ones that are less expensive. With only a few exceptions these scissors cost about the same a larger embroidery scissors ($10-$20). Because their small size means you’ll want one with every project, this makes them a substantial investment.
Conclusion
I have tried several of these products recently and none of them were better than my small Westcott Titanium scissors (3″ long) and all of them were at least twice the price. One pair, the Grasshopper scissors I found so difficult to use that I found myself sawing through even the thinnest threads.
Although you may find these scissors suit you well, I’m not convinced that they are worth buying just yet.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
J. Burton says
I bought a small folding pair to take on a plane to use while traveling. To my dismay, they were not allowed! I had to dump them at the screening so I could continue on to the gate.