I do use rotary cutters also.

What size scissors do you use for cutting patterns? I'm trying to figure out what the inches measure -- the blade or the whole thing? I'd like a large pair such that one cut can get through a lot of linear fabric, not going back and forth.

What do you find rotary cutters useful for? Someone else mentioned them and I'm wondering how they work for corners and notches. (I'm picturing a pizza cutter, so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about!)

Last question: Is there a precise difference between "shears" and "scissors?" I thought shears were just larger, but I also know there are pinking shears...

Thank you!

What you use depends on what you do.
Always get the best you can afford.
Don't let them be used for paper, buy cheep scissors for that.

I quilt so I use rotary cutters mostly. They make a better cut on long straight pieces. With practice you can use them for curves and corners.
If you get a rotary cutter get the set: cutter, ruler, and mat. You won't be disappointed.
There are youtube videos for instructions.
Rotary cutters are sharp Always, close them when not using . As always be careful.

I only have a cardboard sort of 'mat' for cutting, but I could understand needing something that stands up to the rotary cutter.

How cool that you quilt! I wish I'd gotten into that. I once choreographed a production of the musical "Quilters." It was quite feminist and probably wouldn't be as accepted today in community theatre, much less a high school performance.

We quilters are an outspoken bunch

Before that I used a pair of Wiss.

I think Wiss is what my Mom had. Wish I had inherited them!

Dumb question, but now that I'm looking at them online, I realize I'm not sure how scissors are measured. The blade itself, or the whole thing?

But honestly, I prefer rotary cutters for almost everything. Much easier on the hands/arms, and easier to control, in most cases.

Is a rotary cutter like a pizza cutter? How do you manage corners and the little 'notches?' I'd love something easy on my hands!

are my favorite. I hear Henkels are good too. I would stick to German made scissors.

If you are cutting paper I would go with Fiskars.

This is why I love this forum!

I'll be looking into rotary cutters now, too. (I have a waiting period for a pattern to arrive to replace the one my dog ate.)

. . . Back before the stores got really big. We often recommended Gingher scissors as the best. But I have recently read about the Guggenhein brand.

My own sewing shears are Fiskars. The most important thing that was drummed into our heads was that fabric shears are NEVER to be used for anything else. Buy a collection of cheaper scissors and keep 'em handy in the kitchen, garage or where ever you might need them, but keep your fabric shears away from grabby hands. (Okay, maybe we were a little militant, but we were all Fabric Whores* who knew how important quality sewing shears really are.)


* Sorry. We were polyamorous fabric fans.

Understood. That rule was drilled into me, too -- never use fabric scissors for paper!

I ordered from Michael's, where there was a 30% off sale on all things "measuring and cutting!" I snagged a pair of Gingher shears, a Fiskar rotary cutter, and a small cutting mat. It came in at just the right total for free shipping!

Thanks to all for the advice and suggestions! I can't wait to try out the new equipment!

My mom trained and worked as a dressmaker for several years.
She made excellently sewed clothes for us!

Anyway I was fascinated with the pinking shears.
I just looked them up last night. Interesting! Now I know why they are made that way, and what their function is 👍