How to Use Pinking Shears

Pinking shears are special scissors with notched blades instead of standard straight blades. As pinking shears make their cuts, the notches on the blades fit together to create a zigzag or other decorative pattern along the fabric's cut edge. Use pinking shears to cut a decorative fabric edge or to prevent raw fabric edges from fraying. The following steps will teach you how to properly use pinking shears for sewing purposes.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pinking shears Fabric

1. Hold the pinking shears so the shears are perpendicular to the fabric. Do not hold the pinking shears at an angle to the fabric, because this will not enable a clean cut. If you hold the pinking shears incorrectly, they may tear the fabric instead of cleanly pinking it.

2. Begin the cut from the second tooth from the base of the shears. Allow each notch to cut the fabric without moving the scissors along the fabric. Squeeze the shears completely closed, and keep them stationary along the fabric.

3. Open the shears completely after each notch has cut the fabric. Move the shears along the fabric, and line up the notches of the blades along the cut notches in the fabric.

4. Squeeze the pinking shears again to cut the fabric. Continue cutting using this method.

Tips & Warnings

• Pinking shears create the best cuts when used on two to four fabric layers. Delicate fabrics can be difficult to cut. Try placing an additional sturdy layer of fabric under a delicate fabric to enable crisp pinking.

References

• Using Pinking Shears