tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post2321386058927148534..comments2024-03-14T16:03:32.434-04:00Comments on Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing: Get Your Scissors Sharpened! (Seriously, Do It!)Gertiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314542159287533507noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-38657688972190558592013-02-18T23:06:12.212-05:002013-02-18T23:06:12.212-05:00Try Boneka shears in Atlanta. If they can't d...Try Boneka shears in Atlanta. If they can't do it they will know someone close who can. Good luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-66857153938584742082013-02-18T22:58:01.214-05:002013-02-18T22:58:01.214-05:00They can be sharpened. Talked to your hair stylis...They can be sharpened. Talked to your hair stylist to see if they know of a sharpener. A good sharpener will be able to tell you if your pinking shears can be sharpened or not. Get out of the habit of throwing things away when they can be refurbished with very little cost. Plus you will help your local sharpener keep his or her business running. Good luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-33307793676006174982013-02-18T22:50:51.564-05:002013-02-18T22:50:51.564-05:00They can be sharpened if there is a lap line on th...They can be sharpened if there is a lap line on the teeth. There should be two colors shiny on the bottom and darker on the top. See on youtube sharpening pinking scissors with a twice as sharp machine. You would have to send them in to a sharpener or maybe someone locally can do it for you.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-31859058710815440792013-02-18T22:48:27.417-05:002013-02-18T22:48:27.417-05:00They can be sharpened if there is a lap line on th...They can be sharpened if there is a lap line on the teeth. There should be two colors shiny on the bottom and darker on the top. See on youtube sharpening pinking scissors with a twice as sharp machine. You would have to send them in to a sharpener or maybe someone locally can do it for you. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-45261025181610805442011-04-18T10:17:10.538-04:002011-04-18T10:17:10.538-04:00I've been in the textiles business for over th...I've been in the textiles business for over thirty years and am also a professional sharpener in Massachusetts with a KAI and Premax Scissor online store. If your scissors or pinking shears need immediate attention, you can always try the old sandpaper or aluminum tin foil temporary fix. Using either 200 -80 grit sandpaper cut through the paper with your sicssors a couple of times. The same is true for the aluminum foil except you must fold it twice. There's nothing like having your scissors professionally sharpened, but this is a temporary fix and will not harm your scissors.<br /><br />Scissorman<br />www.scissormanusa.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-11715992683614650752010-03-20T15:51:55.627-04:002010-03-20T15:51:55.627-04:00wellll...... I just got my shears back form Westph...wellll...... I just got my shears back form Westphal, and I'm sad to say they do NOT cut like buttah. :( I don't know if they are even any better than they were before, although the sad bits of rust on the blades are gone and they did oil the join. We'll see how my pinking shears fare when I get them back this weds.... they were dull since I stole them form my mom 8 years ago so any improvement will be a plus.Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037636603903648365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-30032489979732347622010-03-06T18:27:51.087-05:002010-03-06T18:27:51.087-05:00Thanks for the info. Though I live in Jersey I do...Thanks for the info. Though I live in Jersey I do alot of things in NYC. This can be one of them!Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02204627216540667980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-6605013780819373632010-03-04T19:32:36.205-05:002010-03-04T19:32:36.205-05:00As I child I remember my mother having a pair of s...As I child I remember my mother having a pair of scissors which I was never allowed to touch as they were her fabric scissors, once I accidentally used them to cut paper and she ran screaming across the room trying to save them from getting blunted. Caring for my fabric scissors has been drummed into me!<br />I never thought of getting scissors professionally sharpened though.<br />As a good temporary and immediate measure I use a wine bottle to sharpen my scissors. You just 'cut' at the neck of the bottle with the scissors and somehow it really works. I've even done it with pinking shears and it improved them for a while.Clarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13931436948216821554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-75438870754906838822010-03-02T09:17:34.589-05:002010-03-02T09:17:34.589-05:00I keep seeing comments about JoAnn's/fabric st...I keep seeing comments about JoAnn's/fabric stores...the folks that do those are not usually with the company and they have days the people show up to pick them up, it's usually some old guy who's been doing it for umpteen years, and to be honest, I'd rather give them to that guy then Gingher's.<br /><br />My old guy died which is why I have to send them off. I really would rather give my 8 bucks to some old guy who sharpened knives and scissors long before I was born.<br /><br />Laura, I hear you on what you can afford. For the better part of 6 months, I put non-quarters in a jar, took them to coinstar and got amazon gift certificates there EVERY WEEK, and saved for my first pair (and no one knew about it). After, I divorced the deadbeat so I was able to budget in my $25 a little better (and it STILL took me 6 months to get 2 more pairs, on sale). Scissors are one of those things that do make a world of difference in sewing, and you should get the best you can afford. If it happens to be $7 scissors, then take care of them. I knew about the tin foil trick, but be careful since it can mess up fabric.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-24235811549141149732010-03-02T03:03:35.983-05:002010-03-02T03:03:35.983-05:00What is regularly?What is regularly?Julianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-7026123018119790952010-03-02T01:44:13.042-05:002010-03-02T01:44:13.042-05:00Thank you for the tip about Ginghers! I have had ...Thank you for the tip about Ginghers! I have had mine for about 15 years and never had them sharpened- they still cut well- but I am sure they could use a good sharpening!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17664726634719648643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-84439273367672372852010-03-01T23:19:37.780-05:002010-03-01T23:19:37.780-05:00I did it, I dropped my Ginghers off at the saw/kni...I did it, I dropped my Ginghers off at the saw/knife/sharp things store. I miss them, and I can't get them back until Wednesday. But I'm looking forward to seeing them all lovely and invigorated!Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14247515387599954817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-79043026199216194862010-03-01T22:23:59.848-05:002010-03-01T22:23:59.848-05:00My scissors are what I can afford.... and it's...My scissors are what I can afford.... and it's Fiskers, not Ginghers. I'm not even sure if you can get Fiskers sharpened at all! Did you know that cutting through layers of tin foil can actually sharpen your scissors? I read it somewhere and tried it with an old pair and it actually works...Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07717835382469677601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-64535611983177128402010-03-01T21:02:04.883-05:002010-03-01T21:02:04.883-05:00I have my scissors sharpened regularly. I live in ...I have my scissors sharpened regularly. I live in the country where there are no fabric stores, no sewing stores, nothing. Recently, in the middle of nowhere, a quilting shop opened and it operates 7 days! They have a wonderful man who repairs machines and another who sharpens scissors. I have two pairs of identical scissors and a cheaper back up pair that I cycle regularly. About yearly they go in for a 'service' and it makes the world of difference. I have about ten pairs of thread snips that get moved from active duty at the machine to less active duty by the ironing board and then into semi retirement for making triangles when cutting out before being relegated to the bin.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11274649006496918800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-91571942971859806012010-03-01T20:38:02.253-05:002010-03-01T20:38:02.253-05:00When I first got my Ginghers I was told only to ta...When I first got my Ginghers I was told only to take them to a cutlery shop to have them sharpened. So I did...about once over 10 years! Two years ago I just broke down and took them to JoAnn's and last year brought them to the farmer's market. Don't know that I trust either of them for quality, but I had sharp shears the same day I dropped them off!Danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17514929600248371886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-30955624568557255022010-03-01T19:43:57.359-05:002010-03-01T19:43:57.359-05:00I recently had my scissors sharpened by a mobile g...I recently had my scissors sharpened by a mobile guy who sharpens the local hairdressers and dog groomers scissors $10 and lovely sharp scissors in 15 mins!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-21482540324153079232010-03-01T19:39:42.423-05:002010-03-01T19:39:42.423-05:00Sewing's hard. Better leave that to the pros,...Sewing's hard. Better leave that to the pros, too. <br /><br />Sharpening things, on the other hand, is easy. For reasons that I've never understood, many Americans have a horrible fear of sharpening things. It's not rocket science. Little demons don't appear and steal your first born child if your technique isn't perfect.<br /><br />Straight edged shears (most sorts of sewing scissors, besides pinking shears) are very easy. It takes almost no equipment, and is quite forgiving of less than perfect technique.<br /><br />As for getting pinking shears sharpened, you need to find someone who either sharpens them by hand (expensive to pay a professional to do), find someone who has a machine that will do them, or send them to the manufacturer (which is a variant of option two.). Many of sharpeners that make appearances at sewing stores simply have bought a machine, watched the video that came with it, and hang out their shingle to ruin shears. If it doesn't fit their machine, they can't do it. Someone like the people Gertie went to, who have an actual place of business, are a much better bet.davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07372217173540212251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-84964718692778010412010-03-01T19:32:26.397-05:002010-03-01T19:32:26.397-05:00I have scissors sharpening machine, but I still do...I have scissors sharpening machine, but I still do use like I should. I tend to buy a new pair when Joann's has a 50% sale. My Gingers I don't use as much as I should. I use to be go about having my scissors sharpened when I lived in NYC, because yes,,, Everything is there. But you known I should not complain because there is a man at the farmers market that sharpens knives and scissors. NO EXCUSE!KARIMAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15016716965565229162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-49493487486683033302010-03-01T18:58:08.818-05:002010-03-01T18:58:08.818-05:00I have had sharpening my scissors on my To Do list...I have had sharpening my scissors on my To Do list for a little while now. I have had them done and the difference is amazing! It really is a must to have both your knives and scissors sharpened every 6-12 months by a professional. Now I just have to get off my bum and do it!Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00947982822958330915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-64615870564052149352010-03-01T18:54:24.622-05:002010-03-01T18:54:24.622-05:00several people commented on how to sharpen pinking...several people commented on how to sharpen pinking shears in the comments above, so i thought id speak up for once and share my insight lol! from what i was told at britex fabrics in san fran is that its difficult to sharpen pinking shears. hence why it is cheaper to buy a new pair than get them sharpened.<br /><br />-anaAnnelisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11680817216303726210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-65280032830088671252010-03-01T18:51:36.442-05:002010-03-01T18:51:36.442-05:00We cut A LOT of fabric here at the studio, and as ...We cut A LOT of fabric here at the studio, and as a little christmas present to ourselves, we got all our shears sharpened! <br />Now we get a little shiver of delight when we easily slice through even the heaviest canvas! *joy!*<br />xx TeegsInk and Spindlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06792337674240133318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-66924786007058232742010-03-01T17:41:13.762-05:002010-03-01T17:41:13.762-05:00Yeah, I should get my scissors sharpened, too. The...Yeah, I should get my scissors sharpened, too. They still work quite well, so I am too lazy to actually part with them to get them sharpened.<br />Although I sharpen my knifes myself, I would not recommend sharpening your scissors yourself because the cut is not straight like with knifes, but kind of curved. (Don't know how to explain it better, but if you close your scissors and look at them from above you will see a gap in the middle where they won't touch each other). So it would be better to let pro's do the work.christinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18084668122322535968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-18634149782713855002010-03-01T17:13:33.886-05:002010-03-01T17:13:33.886-05:00Gertie you really DO have everything in New York! ...Gertie you really DO have everything in New York! We've got nothing like that here and all my scissors need to be sharpened badly - especially my pinkers.Twill Jillhttp://www.peoplearentflat.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-37796212694997769422010-03-01T16:35:35.747-05:002010-03-01T16:35:35.747-05:00Hey guys, Henry Westpfal DOES sharpen pinking shea...Hey guys, Henry Westpfal DOES sharpen pinking shears so it's certainly possible. Whether every sharpener offers this service or not, I don't know. Please share your experience if you've had pinking shears sharpened!Gertiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04314542159287533507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-1893286940440764902010-03-01T16:33:04.991-05:002010-03-01T16:33:04.991-05:00Excellent!! Good to know that Gingher will do it b...Excellent!! Good to know that Gingher will do it b/c i know there is no one else near me that does - i have tried before. Thanks!Caroline ~ TrilliumDesignhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13942921653593872788noreply@blogger.com