Using Buttonhole Scissors

[@debbycook222]

Thank you,,,,,,,I was given a pair of these scissors , had no idea why they were different, now I know & it will make my sewing so much easier……

[@piccalillipit9211]

MOSTLY these are for hand-sewn button holes, you set the cut at 3mm more than your button length, you place them over the edge and cut at 90deg to the edge and you will get X number of identical length button holes spaced correctly from the edge. As you only want to cut one buttonhole at a time as you sew, it can be tricky to get the next one the exact same length. Trust me - I make hand-sewn buttonholes and I DONT have them

[@theresazimmerman4010]

I found an old pair , made in Italy in an old sewing basket I thrifted, tried them out, was amazed how slick they were I'm and am eager to teach my grandson, who wants to learn to sew, how they work for mens shirts.

[@TheHaberdasherBee]

Wow that's an amazing find. I'm sure your grandson will love using them too :)

[@susaniacuone5758]

I have two pairs, both vintage/antique. One for large buttonholes and one for small. I love them.

[@TheHaberdasherBee]

Ah lucky you! Vintage/antique scissors are fascinating in their own right too :)

[@katnip6289]

I've seen a tailor using a buttonhole scissors when I watched him sewing in a bespoke how to video on KZbin. It was the first time that I was aware of such a scissors ✂️

[@TheHaberdasherBee]

Oooh I bet that was quite an interesting video!

[@katnip6289]

@@TheHaberdasherBee yes it was. I'm very new to sewing and all the videos I watch are so helpful to understand all the nuances of sewing. There is so much to learn.

[@TheHaberdasherBee]

I don't think anyone ever stops learning, especially with a skill like sewing. I hope you're enjoying learning all you can about it though!

[@annbrookens945]

The buttonhole scissors I inherited from my grandmother did not have the screw to prevent overcutting the hole. Putting a pin at the end of the prospective buttonhole is an excellent idea! Sadly, I never thought of doing that and occasionally ended up cutting too far.

[@TheHaberdasherBee]

Oh how interesting! Was the screw simply missing or was there no hole for it at all? All of the buttonhole scissors I have seen have screws of varying lengths, but its possible that there were some made without the screw

[@bobbinsew]

I’ve just paid a NZ $1 for a pair of these in a charity shop, so very sharp too

[@TheHaberdasherBee]

That's an amazing deal! Love using my little buttonholers :) I hope they become a favourite tool of yours too

[@peterdebeauchamp3928]

I cut the buttonhole from both directions. You don't have to worry bout the screw or over cutting. It is easy to line up the heel of the notch with each end of the buttonhole and cut toward the center.

[@TheHaberdasherBee]

Yes that's a good way to open buttonholes fully, though I think as buttonholes seem to be a soure of anxiety for a lot of sewists, it's perhaps something that people may only find useful as they grow in confidence. Having the screw or a pin there to prevent overcutting is as much a confidence thing as a practical thing

[@RogerGoodledy]

What is the advantage of these shears over using an exacto knife blade?

[@TheHaberdasherBee]

Craft knives have surprisingly flimsy blades, so while it's possible to use them you'll struggle to cut through the layers of fabric and stabiliser. Using dedicated tools like buttonhole scissors is always the best option if you can, since they're designed for the job and so are the much faster, cleaner and safer option. If you don't have any buttonhole scissors, I'd suggest using a seam ripper as they're far safer than using a craft knife - I made another video on using a seam ripper to open buttonholes if you check my channel. Hope that helps!

[@TheHaberdasherBee]

​@@No-One-of-Consequence I don't sorry - I sell haberdashery but I don't actually make clothes for sale or to order. I got into the haberdashery from making my own clothes. I am however in the process of learning how to draft sewing patterns - my first few will be women's patterns as that's what the course I've been doing focuses on, but in future I do want to release men's patterns too

[@maddscientist3170]

I will keep using my exacto knife

[@johncolvin2561]

My mother had singer buttonhole scissors, and she was not a tailor.

[@TheHaberdasherBee]

Not everyone who uses these scissors will necessarily be a tailor, though they are most commonly used by tailors and professional seamstresses. Many home sewists have never come across these scissors before, so perhaps your mother was lucky in being introduced to them - I hope she got lots of use from hers!

[@johncolvin2561]

@@TheHaberdasherBee She was always making clothes for my sister. She saw them at a Singer sewing center and bought them..