my mother-in-law gave me her pinking shears when she could no longer sew after having several strokes. the ones she had were bought before my husband was born and i really thought it was more of a sentimental thing than actually a usable sewing tool. i thought it was a sweet gesture as she gave me many things that she had gotten around or before the time of my husband's birth. i decided to try them so that if she asked i could tell her i did. i was shocked to find out they worked better than my new ones!

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

Not surprised! what a great gift:)

It's so helpful how you break every little thing down, even things that some people would take for granted! I learned sewing on the fly, so I missed a lot of essential basics like this. Thank you so much, can't wait to watch more of your videos! :)

@SewVeryEasy

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for taking time to watch:)

Watching in 2023 and found this video to be super helpful!

Laura, I am surprised you did not demonstrate how well pinking shears work on concave and convex curves. They are wonderful for collars- they remove all that excess fabric in the seam allowanced and you can save so much time not having to clip and notch,

@blueberry_lemon

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip!! I sew collars often, and I was just about to start working on a jacket!

@giselemartineau1594

3 ай бұрын

Good suggestion!

This is a tool I've used for a long time, but i didn't know most of what you said in this video! Thank you!

This is excellent for a person new to sewing. Much appreciated!

I recently gave my daughter her great grandmothers pinking shears, since she's right handed. I really love the rotary pinking blade because I'm left handed. I told her that they only are used on fabric. She has them tucked in her tin of great grandmas sewing machine parts, since she has her singer machine too. I love the gradation of a seam. What a great tip.

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and taking time to comment:)

I have two pairs and absolutely love them. I made it a passion of mine to look for old sets at thrift stores and I can't tell you the fabulous things I find for a quarter dollar. Over the years I have accumulated all kind of different scissors with no comparable with the new stuff in the market.

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

I agree:)

You answered every question I had about these pinking shears. Thank you!!

You are such a good teacher. It’s one thing to know how to it; it’s another to be able to teach it also.

Your explanations are always so clear, very helpful, thank you from Australia Laura!

This is so helpful! I've been using pinking shears wrong the whole time!

Great knowledge here. Thank you. You're so lucky to be using your mother's pinking shears! What a gift. I do wish now that I'd kept some of my mother's sewing essentials. She was an amazing artisan! I love the new rotary pinking blades and styles!! What will we think of next???? I can't get enough of crafting on the internet!!

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and taking time to comment:)

I was recently given 2 pairs of pinking sheers. I sure am lucky as they are very old and are sill very sharp. Thank you for your videos as they are very helpful and fun to watch.

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and taking time to comment:)

I an so glad I came across this video! I have been using them like regular scissors and wondering why I am struggling so much. And you also mentioned the rotary blade which I never knew existed! I am trying to get better with the rotary cutter and am so excited to purchase the blade and try it out. I also was struggling with where to position the blades in regards to my fabric markings. Thank you so much for this!

wow, great tip. replacement blades..how cool. thanks again beautiful lady. God bless

I love all of your videos! A great variety and very informative!

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

thank you:)

Thank you for your wonderful tutorial, I have my Grandmothers pinking shears from about 1930

Great video, thank you for all the info. As far as how to use them I was up to speed, but after that it was all new info to me! I did not know that it softened the fabric and the ironing tip. Great stuff, thank you so much.

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

you are welcome and Thank you for watching and taking time to comment:)

Thank you laura for a fine video, I am a sharpener and was studying pinking shears, very useful:)

Thank you so much! Now I know how to use pinking shears properly!

Thank you so much for making this video, it was extremely helpful. I had watched a few other videos and still felt iffy about using them. This one was definitely the most informative.

Love all your videos. This one is very informative and I didn't know they had pinging rotary blades so thank you!

Just replaced my great grandmother's pair recently. Not sure if they are able to be sharpened. My new ones sure cut well! Thanks for the video.....

Thank you for an excellent explanation of pinking shears.

Thanks. Your information is very helpful.

Thank you for your video,I found it very helpful, will be looking forward to useing my new picking shears.

your so helpful every time i find a new sewing tool

Wow! I never even knew the name of this type of scissors. They were always just zigzag scissors or rotary blade. I didn’t have read the name; the zigzag edging was all I looked for. Now at this time it was for paper crafting in general or scrapbooking. I love doing things with my hands from gardening, drawing, coloring/painting (digitally, paper, or on stones), crocheting, sewing. I always knew how to sew by hand, simple things. My aunt was a pro at sewing. So I learn things from her. You know there’s always things you learn and just put in your back pocket. Sewing was one of those things. Some projects consume so much time you kinda forget, you have other talents/hobbies. Sewing is my “new” self teaching hobby. I’ve learned a lot already & completed a few projects, though I can’t tell you the name of each feature on the sewing machine, surely I’ll know them with time, what automatic with me is the steps & the whys. Hope I making sense. Back to the scissors, I kept hearing pinky shears and I have to admit, I’m super surprise this is what they are. What I did learn is using them on the seams, honestly I’m like dang that makes a lot of sense while I been sniping into the seam or cutting small “V” into them. Oh and I super agree, I keep my fabric scissors separate from my crafting scissors. THANK YOU FOR THIS!!❤️ Marta

Explained wonderfully! Helped me so much. Thank you

More great tips! - what a mine of information you share with all of us.Many thanks.

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

thanks

Learned many new things today. Thank you

I was not one hundred percent understood what pinking shears was for or how effective they were. Thank you for desmystifying this tool. Will buy one soon. Click like, if you are on the same boat as me! Lols

Love all your videos! Thanks!

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and taking time to comment:)

Don't know if you'll see this because the video is 2017, but I can't seem to find my answer. Why do some pinking shears have one blade that's longer than the other? Great information in your video! Just subscribed. Have never sewn much, but decided to give it another shot after 15 years away! Old sewing machine, but still works good for a beginner like me! Thank you!

Thank you. You answered a lot of questions I had about pinking shears. I have a pair that my Grandmother left me.

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

glad to like it

So helpful thank you! I couldn't get a straight even zig zag cut until watching your video. (I was using the shears like regular scissors)

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

glad I could help:)

I bought a 2nd pinking shears from a thrift shop which were sharper than my old 1st pair, so the 1st got relegated to paper use :)

Thanks. Just what I needed to know. I found an original pair of Swiss Pinking Shears. I had them professionally sharpened last year. I've been thinking they were junk cause the don't cut anything. I now know I've been using them wrong.

@susiladevirajasundram4376

3 жыл бұрын

Where did yu get it professionally sharpened. Gove me the contact

Thanks always wondered how to use these type of scissor properly , good job

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

Thank You and thank you for taking time to watch:)

I enjoyed this and learned some new things but have a question. Should the pinking shears ever be oiled and if so would love to see a demo and what type of oil. I cut wax paper between cutting my fabrics which does seem to help the blades stick less. I also brush out the lint between the blades before cutting the wax paper.

Very well explained!!!!!

Insightful, useful, thankful. I learned alot today. I was under the impression that when using PS the edges would eventually frey. However you say they frey but only so far. Any word on whether they can be sharpened or just trashed? Mine are Fiskars and no longer cut.

@SewVeryEasy

4 жыл бұрын

they can be sharpened but make sure the tech knows how,

Thank you for making this great video!! 🙄☺👌👍💙

Great information- thank you. I just purchased a pinking rotary blade. I have an old pair of pinking shears but I haven't found a place to have them sharpened and they are very dull. Do you have yours sharpened regularly - or have they just been well taken care of?

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

I have just taken care of them but Some hardware stores and key shops will sharpen them.

Thank you!

Thank you for this informative video...

love your top

Thanks, good explanations.

love your jacket. good review.

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

thanks:)

If we use that how long will the edges last during washes? I thought to over cast my edges before sewing my dress and my sewing machine eats fabric to close to the edge so overncastin will not help, thank you. Sam

Thank you!❤❤❤

Thanks , nice video good voice . To the point.

Great tutorial! I have a question for you though, my grandmother on my dads side was a great quilter and when she died someone took my grandmothers pinking sheers and gave them to me as they knew that I sewed. But my grandmothers sheers are very very old and are very dull, is there a way to sharpen the sheers? Someone once told me to get some soft sand paper and cut on the sandpaper and that would help. Before I do anything I wanted to ask a pro like yourself about them. This is the first time I've seen a tutorial on pinking sheers, so any help is appreciated. My sister told me that their so old just throw them away! But yours look great and if I can get my grandmothers working then I'd love to keep them! I'm the only grand child out of a ton of grand children she had that sews and quilts, so I'd love to keep keep. Thank you

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

Oh please do not toss them out! Have them sharpen by a professional. Ask around at hardware and quilt shops! It is a great gift that you have:)

SUPER HELPFUL 🙌

awesome! I need to get some now :)

Hello, I'm needing to use picking shears on curved pieces of fabric. I noticed you said you need to do long cuts. That's a little difficult on curves. Hiw would you handle curves? Thanks

Great information! How do you keep your picking shears so sharp?

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

NO paper, and keep them clean with sewing machine oil,

@sald1639

5 жыл бұрын

I read somewhere that if you take a sheet of waxed paper, fold the sheet a few layers then cut through that sheet with your pinking shears that would sharpen them. It worked for me! Yay! I cut the whole sheet up, lol I found this tip at aosharp.com He is in western PA.

Thanks

Thank You!

Hello Laura, do PS work on silk fabrics? I’m working on silk and the fraying is catching onto the bobbin! Any suggestions? Thanks

Hi :) Are you able to notch using pinking shears?

Thanks for the video. May I ask, where did you get the ruler with the large print?

@SewVeryEasy

5 жыл бұрын

is this the one www.createforless.com/EZ-Quilting-Easy-Rule-Acrylic-Ruler-6-1/2-x-13-in/pid16004.aspx

Hi Laura, If I have a pinking shears .. will I have to buy a serger to finish the seams? or is there an additional job the serger can do? especially when sewing garments! and thank you very much :)

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

A serger can do a lot more than finish seams. If you like to make clothing a serger is a great machine to have. I would not be without one:)

great explanation!

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

thanks:)

THANK YOU!

How have you taken care of your pinking shears that they can last that long?

God bless!

Thanks... your video was helpful how do I keep the pinking shears sharp ! How do I sharpen them Laura.? GLORIA FROM MISSOURI.

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

Just keep clean with sewing machine oil and if they need to be sharpend , go to some one good!

@tinacarvelli6884

5 жыл бұрын

@@SewVeryEasy I inherited a pair of Weiss pinking shears. was thrilled because I always wanted a good pair. Unfortunately, they had been used for things other than fabric (cutting paper/card stock for cardmaking/scrapbooking, etc), so they could not be repaired according to shop. I was told the blades were warped and no sharpening could help. PLEASE NOTE: MAKE SURE NO ONE ELSE TOUCHES YOUR PINKING SHEARS OR YOUR WEISS SEWING SHEARS! It made me sick to have to toss them.

WHICH one is best to buy? brand and size?

Thank you

Please, if you ever update this video would you include tips on keeping your pinkers sharp or if it is possible for them to be sharpened? I've often considered cutting through a sheet of foil since some say that is good for our regular shears but am very leery of doing this to my pinkers. I know that it is helpful to oil a paper towel with sewing machine oil and then cut through it if you are using your shears for a large project...having the cutting surfaces oiled like this really gives cleaner cuts. As well as keeping lint wiped away from the blades. And would you do a demo of correct form for using rotary pinking blades? I wonder how a person's technique needs to be different to adapt to the non-straight blade? Thank you for this video, you really covered a lot of great basics.

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

Yes you can have them sharpen, go to someone good! do not use foil. And you can clean your pinkers with sewing machine oil. And I'll put that video request on my list, thanks for asking:)

@learntocrochet1

5 жыл бұрын

In my area, there are no longer ANY scissor sharpening experts who will do pinkers. One fellow laughed when I asked him. He said, "I would have to charge you so much, you might as well throw them out and buy another pair." GRRR! I don't like this. I like to maintain good tools, not buy semi-junk then toss them!

I have a pair of Kai shears and am thinking of purchasing their pinkers. But I wanted to share that I just found out that Hui Tong makes 'V' shaped pinkers and 3 mm, 5 mm & 7 mm scallop shaped pinkers. (I don't have any relationship with either company, just sharing). Somewhere I read that the shape and size of the pinker makes them suitable for different fabrics. But I can't find that information - does anyone have know this?

@SewVeryEasy

5 жыл бұрын

It's funny you ask because I was looking too. I did find a pair of scallop pinkers will have to see about the others. Thanks for the info :)

How do you sharpen your scissors and pinking shears?

Before there were pinking shears, there were pinking irons. Chisel shaped, you hit them with a mallet like a buttonhole cutter. The rotary oinking blade looks like the best of both.

thank you helpful

💕

TFS!

Thanks for this tutorial! I thought there was something wrong with my pinking shears but your explanation shows there's not.

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

glad I could help:)

Great, informative

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

thanks

My Fiskars pinking shears are sharp because they're new, but they are way too hard to open and close. I guess I will have to buy a good pair like yours.

@rhoodj

Жыл бұрын

What is the best to buy?

I see you have answered my question below - sorry - should have read first. Since they can be sharpened, I will have to look for somewhere on line. Thank you.

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

Some hardware store and key shops will do them:)

Do you have to sharpen them? If so how?

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

Go to someone with experience with pinking sheers if you need them sharpened:)

What do I do if the fabric still gets caught in the shears even after they've been sharpened?

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

it could be a few things. Too much fabric or too many layers, or start further away from the screw. let me know if that works.

@katechips468

7 жыл бұрын

I did only one layer of fabric and I tried it at multiple places along the shears. Nothing seems to work.

Where do I get this sissor

Evening Laura - I had quite a long break from sewing and my pinking shears seem to have given up. There is no smooth cutting action, they can't even cut one layer of muslin fabric. Any home remedies to fix/sharpen or should I give them up and buy new ones. There's no rust or anything similar.

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

Find some experienced to sharpen them:) It is well worth it:)

@tinacarvelli6884

5 жыл бұрын

@@SewVeryEasy There is no one in my area that will touch pinking shears. I bought a used pair online (was told they were in EXCELLENT CONDITION). NOT they are so very stiff and tight, I can barely open them, let alone close them to cut. Can I safely remove the lug nut/screw and loosen them up.

@mumsiepoo525

5 жыл бұрын

@@tinacarvelli6884 I need to know that, too. Mine are so tight to open.

@nitaholder4242

4 жыл бұрын

@@tinacarvelli6884 I had that problem and I sprayed the nut with liquid wrench. That did it, they are working perfectly now. You can spray with WD 40 also.

@rhoodj

Жыл бұрын

@@nitaholder4242 Which one is best to buy?

Thanks for this! I have been using them incorrectly

I have never had a pair of thinking shears last long at all. I use them correctly and they're not used for paper. I'm the only one that uses them and it's always for fabric. They go dull quickly. I would love to know how you have a pair that lasted through two generations. I'm so tired of buying them because you can never get them sharpened and they always get stiff in the joint so I'm always having to oil with WD-40 to make them easier to use. I wish there was a brand out there that I didn't have to go through all this fuss not to mention the blisters on my hands. It drives me crazy because I use them all the time.

hello, I tried the rotary wave blade but it isn't as sharp as the normal blade. Does that happen to you or is it just my blade? :)

@SewVeryEasy

3 жыл бұрын

My was sharp :)

@ShantyThing

3 жыл бұрын

@@SewVeryEasy hi, thanks a lot for the reply. seems like the problem is in my blade. :)

I think my pinkie shears are getting dull. I am trying to see how can sharpen them but so far all I see if people saying to cut aluminum foil. That either doesn't really work or I am doing something wrong. Maybe I just don't want to waste my foil. What do you think?

@SewVeryEasy

4 жыл бұрын

I have never found the aluminum sharpen then, but it did help with the little burrs

@quazylade90

4 жыл бұрын

@@SewVeryEasy so is my only recourse to get a new pair?

@SewVeryEasy

4 жыл бұрын

Try to find someone to sharpen them. A lot of small hardware stores have people that sharpen knives and often have the experience to do the pinking shears

what about felt?

very informative!

Can you please tell me the name brand of yours

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

Olfa:)

Thanks me luv southafrica

My Weiss pair 50+ years old need sharpening anyone know where? My new Fiskars are to stiff to open and close. And when manage that the hard plastic large hole digs into fingers. I hate them and since they have a rivet not a screw can't adjust them. I also have a rotary pinking blade, but a few blades and I can buy new pinking shears, the blades aren't cheap. Please tell people not to try sharpening pinking shears using foil, or sandpaper--it will ruin them. And you don't sharpen the zigzag area. Read up on the task before trying to sharpen on your own. Enjoyed your video.

how to sharpen a dull pinking shear that doesn't cut

How do you sharpen pinking shears?

@SewVeryEasy

6 жыл бұрын

You need have them professionally done

@susiladevirajasundram4376

3 жыл бұрын

@@SewVeryEasy here

New subscriber lets c what u got best south africa

Don’t pinking shears need to be sharpened occasionally these are my mothers pinking shears and I remember being little and trying to cut paper with them and getting in trouble in my adult years I have again used them on paper they’re kind of getting dull

@SewVeryEasy

4 жыл бұрын

yes they do :)

And I thought my pinking shears were dull... thanks.

@SewVeryEasy

7 жыл бұрын

you can get them sharpened:)