Can You Sharpen Embroidery Scissors?

It is ideal to have a professional sharpen your scissors so you will not have difficulties using them. But, you can also sharpen your embroidery scissors at home if you have the right tool.

As much as you care for your embroidery pieces, it is also equally essential to care for your materials. You need to properly care not only for your needles and threads but also for your scissors. Please continue reading to know how to keep your scissors in their tip-top shape.

How to Properly Use Craft Scissors

It would be best if you learned how to use your scissors properly. It will help keep them in their best condition for snipping. Ensure that you are using specialty pairs for their intended purpose. Doing so will help keep their blades sharp longer.

Get a better grip on your scissors while using them. You can do so by wrapping the handles with soft-linen-and-cotton twine. Follow this guide to cover your scissors properly:

1. Roll five feet of the cord into a small bundle that can pass through the finger holes.
2. Secure the twine’s free end and loop it around the handle beginning from the base of one handle.
3. Pass the bundle back through the loop and pull it tight to create a half-hitch knot.
4. Continue doing these steps around the handle. Ensure that you are aligning the knots as you do so to form a herringbone pattern.

How to Clean Your Scissors

Water and dish soap usually suffice for most gunk that can build up after repeated use. But there are other stuff you can use if your scissors have stubborn dirt. Follow these tips to know how to clean your scissors:

• Use paint thinner to remove any sticky residue or other stubborn dirt from your blades.
• Use an acetone nail polish remover and a sponge’s rough side to remove dried glue on your scissors.
• Wipe the blades with a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar if they are rusty.
• Oil the blades’ joint with a soft cloth to the screw area every few months. Doing so will keep your scissors moving smoothly and without friction. Remember to rub the excess oil off before using.

How to Properly Store Your Scissors

You know you are keeping your scissors in the wrong place if you have to rummage through a crowded drawer. It can break the tips, knock them out of alignment, or scratch and nick the blades. It is also a safety hazard, so you need to ensure that you store them properly.

Protect the inner edges by always closing your scissors when you are not using them. The best thing you can do is to keep them in a case. If your scissors did not come with a sheath, pouch, or box, you could make sleeves. Avoid keeping your pair in a humid place to prevent rusting.

How to sharpen embroidery scissors?

It is probably time to sharpen your embroidery scissors once you notice that using them became challenging. There are several ways to sharpen your pair at home. Follow this guide on how to sharpen embroidery scissors at the comfort of your home:

Sharpen Your Embroidery Scissors with Sandpaper

1. Get a fine piece of sandpaper to smoothen the edges of your scissor blades. Have the sandpaper’s rough edges outward before cutting.
   a. 150-200grit sandpaper sheets will work just fine, but you can go for finer grit if you want smoother edges.
2. Cut long strips through the sandpaper about ten to twenty times. You should notice that your blades are becoming sharper with every strip.
   a. Remember to use full scissor strokes. Doing so will ensure that you cut from the base to the tip.
3. Use a damp cloth or paper towel to wipe down the blades. Doing this step will help clean off any sandpaper bits on your scissors.

Sharpen Your Embroidery Scissors with Aluminum Foil

1. Take a piece of aluminum foil that is about 8 to 10 inches long. Fold it lengthwise many times to have a thick, folded strip.
   a. These layers will help you sharpen the blades many times with every cut.
2. Cut strips of the foil until you cut the entire aluminum strip.
   a. Remember to use full scissor strokes, cutting from the base to the tip of your scissors.
3. Use a paper towel dampened by warm water to remove any aluminum debris that may be on your blades after you sharpen them.

Sharpen Your Embroidery Scissors with Sharpening Stone

1. Get a sharpening stone, which you can find at most hardware stores.
   a. Start with the coarse side of the stone if you have very dull scissors. Then, use the finer side to finish.
   b. Use the sharpening stone’s fine side if your scissors only need light sharpening.
2. Place a towel under your sharpening stone and lubricate it with water or honing oil.
   a. You can use water or any oil to lubricate your stone if you do not have oil for honing.
3. Disassemble your scissors by removing the screw attaching the blades. Do this step to sharpen each blade separately and have more mobility when sharpening the blades.
   a. You can use a flathead screwdriver to unscrew your scissors’ blades from each other.
4. Place one blade on the stone with the inner side facing down. Then, create a sharp angle between the inner blade and the cutting edge. Next, slowly pull the blade across the stone toward you, keeping the blade’s edge flat against the stone.
   a. Repeat this step for about 10 to 20 pulls until you sharpen the blade.
   b. Do these steps with the other blade.
5. Grip the blade’s handle and tilt it toward you until the cutting edge lies flat on the stone. Slowly pull the blade across toward you, with the blade horizontal you. Remember to keep the beveled edge flat against the sharpening stone.
   a. Try to match the angle as closely as possible and continue to slide the blade forward.
   b. Finish with a few swipes on the finer side if you started on the coarse side of the sharpening stone.
6. Put your scissors back together and cut through any appropriate material to remove rough burrs.
7. Finally, use a damp paper towel to wipe down your blades and clean off any stone bits.

Sharpen Your Embroidery Scissors with a Sewing Pin

1. Get a sewing pin, then cut it with your scissors. Do this step by squeezing your scissors closed and sliding the pin away from between the blades as they close.
   a. Remember to use light pressure to close your scissors and let the metal do the sharpening.
   b. Repeat the process until your blades have smooth, clean edges.
2. Use a damp paper towel to wipe down the blades. Doing so will help you remove any metal bits that are on the blades after cutting the pin.

Sharpen Your Embroidery Scissors with a Glass Mason Jar

1. Get a mason jar that you do not mind damaging because your scissors may leave marks on it.
2. Open your scissors as wide as they can go and position them around the jar’s sides.
   a. Remember that your jar should be as far as it can go between the blades. Hold it with one hand and the scissors with the other.
3. Squeeze your scissors closed and slide the mason jar out from between the blades. Remember to use light pressure to close your scissors and let the glass do the sharpening.
   a. Repeat the process until the blades have a clean, smooth edge.
4. Use a damp paper towel to wipe down your blades. Doing so will help you clear off any glass pieces that may be on your blades after cutting the jar.

Sharpen Your Embroidery Scissors with a Glass Mason Jar

1. Get a 10-inch file with a length that fits your scissors so you can do things properly.
2. Disassemble your scissors by removing the screw that attaches the blades. Do this step to ensure that you sharpen each blade one at a time and have more flexibility.
3. Hold your file in one hand and your scissors in the other. Then, drag across the inner blade from the base until they reach the tip. Do this step around 5 to 10 times. Repeat this process with the other blade.
4. Use a damp paper towel to wipe off any metal bits on the blades.
5. Finally, screw the bolt in the middle of the scissors to reattach the blades.

More pages: 

• Can you knit well with embroidery floss?
• Can you use embroidery thread for your Kumihimo braid?
• Can you make embroidery out of sewing thread?

Can I use a knife sharpener on scissors?

Do not worry if you do not have the tools needed for the methods I mentioned. You can also use your knife sharpener to sharpen your scissors! They are safe and relatively easy to use. Please continue reading to know how to sharpen your scissors with a knife sharpener.

How to sharpen scissors with a knife sharpener?

1. First, take your scissors apart. Then, set the blade’s inner side in the knife sharpener.
2. Drag your blade over a knife sharpener about ten to twenty times. Repeat the process with the opposite side of your scissors. Keep doing this step until you are happy with your blade’s sharp edges.
3. Wipe your blades down using a damp paper towel to remove any debris that may be on them.