tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post7203400525382788765..comments2024-03-14T16:03:32.434-04:00Comments on Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing: Reader Question: Will Tissue Paper Dull My Shears? Gertiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314542159287533507noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-85998759178400316282013-05-19T17:27:46.827-04:002013-05-19T17:27:46.827-04:00my theory is that steel [ie what scissors are made...my theory is that steel [ie what scissors are made from] is stronger than either cloth or paper...so i use mine for either, but i keep a tiny whet-stone handy to freshen the edge whenever i think it's necessary [not very often at all, i use it more often on bone-carving tools!]. india flinthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01510066677833871579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-28873971178970632622013-05-02T18:46:21.155-04:002013-05-02T18:46:21.155-04:00This spring a vendor showed me how to sharpen shea...This spring a vendor showed me how to sharpen shears. I could not believe that was all there is to it!Lyrichttp://www.sewandcro.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-15769095816178043572013-04-20T03:16:47.197-04:002013-04-20T03:16:47.197-04:00You can actually keep your shears pretty sharp by ...You can actually keep your shears pretty sharp by periodically cutting up a folded piece of aluminium foil. I often do just the tips to keep mine super sharp. For my fancy ARS Japanese shears I send them out every few years to a pro sharpner but this trick keeps me in good shape.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15946831589598315950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-45056617401088969082013-04-16T14:42:32.331-04:002013-04-16T14:42:32.331-04:00I use Fiskars shears and they've been great. T...I use Fiskars shears and they've been great. They have a sharpening tool so I bought that and use it once in a while.Lady IDhttp://www.peppermintandpaisley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-52060176000799380882013-04-15T23:09:49.668-04:002013-04-15T23:09:49.668-04:00I attended a class by Louise Cutting recently, and...I attended a class by Louise Cutting recently, and she said that cutting paper does NOT dull your scissors. It was the first time I ever heard that. Maybe it is an old wive's tale.<br /><br />Joyreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07390642536034678604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-40281986945659360652013-04-15T06:40:56.581-04:002013-04-15T06:40:56.581-04:00Thanks so much!
Yes I think tissue paper might be...Thanks so much! <br />Yes I think tissue paper might be what we would call silk paper, exactly because of its thinness. <br />I had no idea that silk paper in English actually means paper of silk fibers. <br />Oh well, you live and you learn. <br /><br />Thank you again!mettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-50157361887651982512013-04-14T18:46:10.474-04:002013-04-14T18:46:10.474-04:00Good info!Good info!Alaskapsychhttp://alaskapsych.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-19392363333137919162013-04-13T19:36:01.620-04:002013-04-13T19:36:01.620-04:00Cut the tissue paper and get them sharpened, I say...Cut the tissue paper and get them sharpened, I say! LOL <a href="mailto:christine@chriswdesigns.com" rel="nofollow"> Christine</a><br />- <a href="http://www.chriswdesigns.com" rel="nofollow">ChrisW Designs</a> <br />ChrisW Designshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17030583384106090023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-35624280362885311452013-04-13T17:20:05.538-04:002013-04-13T17:20:05.538-04:00You can sharpen Gingher scissors yourself if you&#...You can sharpen Gingher scissors yourself if you're feeling adventurous, you just have to have a good sharpening stone, a wrench and a steady hand. Still good to send them in once or twice a year for sharpening and balancing though. That's what we did when I was sewing professionally. Gingher will also sharpen their pinking shears.<br />I see cutting tissue with fabric as "proper use". I'd much rather be able to easily cut a thing in just the right place than worry too much about keeping my scissors perfect, it's cheap to have them sharpened and I budget in new scissors every year or so. $60 a year for scissors is almost nothing when you use them almost every day. <br />I've found that a lot of sharpening guys like to cut the tip of your scissors to get them to line up properly rather than remove metal from the handles (where they touch), special instructions are often called for when it comes to special tools. A lot of these guys mostly do knives and lawnmower blades and are more concerned will function than art.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-82540641632280286982013-04-13T13:29:06.761-04:002013-04-13T13:29:06.761-04:00I am one of the people who read the original post ...I am one of the people who read the original post tip about tissue paper and silk and thought, "Genius!" <br /><br />I never spared a thought for my scissors. Because if you've ever sewed with charmeuse or chiffon, you know how shifty things can get. The last time I sewed with silk I starched it. That works OK but I got some color bleeding. So I am all over this revelation with tissue paper. It's well worth ever-so-slight dulling of my scissors, which after all can be sharpened (and ought to be, periodically, anyway). So: thank you, Gertie!kbeernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-80670889472512956582013-04-12T17:51:48.572-04:002013-04-12T17:51:48.572-04:00In german, tissue paper is called "seidenpapi...In german, tissue paper is called "seidenpapier" (silk paper), but only because it' s as thin and delicate as silk. I'm guessing it's the same in danish?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-66097669575738841002013-04-12T17:06:16.885-04:002013-04-12T17:06:16.885-04:00Tissue paper is very thin paper a lot like the Big...Tissue paper is very thin paper a lot like the Big 4 use for pattern paper. If I couldn't find a roll of it, I could go to the gift wrap area of a general goods store and get some sheets of it folded up in a package. That can be way more expensive than a roll of it, but good if you hardly ever use sheer fabric.<br /><br />I don't know what 'silk paper' is, unless you mean a handmade or decorative paper that is made with silk fibers. Here in the US that is an expensive item and available in art supply stores - so I don't think you mean that.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11563230869151812456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-35247898932098602122013-04-12T16:56:56.885-04:002013-04-12T16:56:56.885-04:00He would have bought me a new pair. He would have bought me a new pair. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11563230869151812456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-78846869436243335192013-04-12T15:36:23.731-04:002013-04-12T15:36:23.731-04:00How often do you have to sharpen your shears? And ...How often do you have to sharpen your shears? And can you sharpen a rotary blade?Carmenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11909324616448617458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-28648449978350457892013-04-12T11:42:13.281-04:002013-04-12T11:42:13.281-04:00I was told once that not using fabric scissors on ...I was told once that not using fabric scissors on paper was a myth! At one time paper contained something (seem to remember it was something like chalk?) to make it white, and that did dull scissors really quickly. However, modern paper doesn't contain this so is no different to fabric in the amount it dulls scissors. I think the myth is passed down in families as women want to make sure thier kids and husband don't walk off with thier expensive fabric scissors (my mum certainly put the fear into us as children as to what would happen if we dared to even touch her fabric scissors...) helenjaneihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08509776919158177020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-70446191148258570692013-04-12T10:19:53.640-04:002013-04-12T10:19:53.640-04:00My mom was a professional dressmaker and draper. ...My mom was a professional dressmaker and draper. She always sharpened her scissors before working with gauzy, silky, or "funky" fabrics (such as sequins). <br />And yes...scissors DO wear out. Usually a professional sharpener will say, "it's time for a new pair."Marjorytnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-46907776213766191862013-04-12T07:37:10.381-04:002013-04-12T07:37:10.381-04:00While I fully understand that fabric scissors need...While I fully understand that fabric scissors needs sharpening from time to time, there's no reason to cut paper pattern with them. Same as with a kitchen knife, the trick to keeping them sharp is to treat them right. That's not hysterical or neurotic, that's common sense! A good pair of scissors doesn't need to lay unused in a drawer to be treasured, but one can avoid dulling them for no good reason. For example, I cut my patterns with paper scissors and my toilefabric with scissors set aside for that task.<br /><br />But to save myself from off-grain silk, I'd certainly use my good scissors and then have them sharpened. Or maybe just use my rotarycutter and change the blade? I've planned a few projects using silk this year, maybe I'll just try different methods and see what works for me =)Erikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08762815696807107905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-90436705933336555822013-04-12T07:18:56.926-04:002013-04-12T07:18:56.926-04:00Hi. This might be a really stupid question, but wh...Hi. This might be a really stupid question, but what the heck is tissue paper? Is it the same as pattern paper or maybe silk paper? <br />I'm asking because I'm about to make a dress for my friend and she wants it made of silk and chiffon, so this advice comes at just the right time for me. I've been trying to translate it into danish, but neither my oldfashioned dictionary or the online ones seem to be able to give me an answer. <br />From the pictures online it looks as silk paper, but you never know, there might be some difference which doesn't show on pics, so now I'm asking you clever ladies: what the heck is tissue paper? <br />Thanks! <br /><br />Mettemettenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-59523173438709377152013-04-12T06:52:24.718-04:002013-04-12T06:52:24.718-04:00My good scissors need sharpened so bad! I looked u...My good scissors need sharpened so bad! I looked up the knife sharpening guild in my area and found a guy really close by. I called him and he said he'd do it for $5 which is great. The problem is he just does this on the side at his house, and I immediately got a little creeped out. "Hello young lady, do you want to come to my house, alone? I sharpen knives, you know." So now I'm trying to convince my husband to come with me, but he's weirded out, too. Haha. Nikki H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02407520517580416273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-54861087418725174832013-04-12T05:24:41.234-04:002013-04-12T05:24:41.234-04:00Thank you for this common sense post!
Whenever p...Thank you for this common sense post! <br /><br />Whenever people freak out about their shears dulling from cutting the odd bit of tissue I just look at them. Shears can be sharpened - and they should be sharpened regularly! They are tools and will dull even if you only cut fabric.redambitionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11995303996509484228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-79283447247679991402013-04-12T03:59:11.470-04:002013-04-12T03:59:11.470-04:00I have taken my scissors to the local Cobblers- wh...I have taken my scissors to the local Cobblers- who also sharpens blades- for about 15 years. He also sharpens serrated blades and the edges come back to me glinting in the light and razor sharp!<br /> claudetteecclestonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07617795327780293635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-17805497652369819822013-04-12T03:32:42.640-04:002013-04-12T03:32:42.640-04:00I took my beautiful Singer scissors to a fabric st...I took my beautiful Singer scissors to a fabric store to have them professionally sharpened. The idiot decided my scissors had too sharp a point so he reshaped the tip! It was so upsetting as the point allowed me to get into small areas easily and furthermore the rounded tip was ugly with the chrome removed. I was totally speechless as he handed my precious scissors back to me. I still have them but don't use them for sewing anymore. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-87776033361317681732013-04-11T21:35:40.006-04:002013-04-11T21:35:40.006-04:00What a timely post! My scissors need sharpening. T...What a timely post! My scissors need sharpening. They are a vintage pair of Singer scissors and I guess I will have to hunt down a place that sharpens them in my city.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02500490363731355974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-8379768910664829732013-04-11T21:15:03.303-04:002013-04-11T21:15:03.303-04:00Excellent advice! You are right. I will ask my hai...Excellent advice! You are right. I will ask my hairdresser. Thanks.boocathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03794729428885829178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-16637761298755087942013-04-11T17:49:55.897-04:002013-04-11T17:49:55.897-04:00You are so right! and I will not mind if my shears...You are so right! and I will not mind if my shears dull I can always buy another set! They are not that expensive!!! LOLdicca85https://www.blogger.com/profile/03687787099118739124noreply@blogger.com