Embroiderers love their scissors!

I’m no exception. I am easily infatuated by scissors, but only under certain conditions.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I am not really a collector of scissors. I don’t collect embroidery scissors just to have them. If they’re just cute or pretty, that’s not quite enough for me.

This doesn’t mean I don’t have a small collection of favorite scissors. I do. They just aren’t collectibles. They’re functional tools that I use over and over and over again, and I don’t care if they are trendy, cute, beautiful.

To me, when it comes to scissors, the beauty is in the functionality and workmanship that makes them a Good Pair of Scissors.

Do you ever wonder about the scissors that you use for your embroidery pursuits? Where they come from? How they’re made?

Well, the BBC recently ran a great little news video about the making of scissors at Ernest Wright & Son, LTD, where scissors are still forged and finished by hand, by a few individuals (and their apprentices).

Sheffield was the hub of steel production in the UK, and scissor-makers have been in the Sheffield area since the 1700′s.

The industry has certainly dwindled. As is often the case in modern manufacturing (and we see the same thing with the needle-making industry), production has moved overseas where labor is cheaper, but where quality and craftsmanship don’t necessarily follow.

The BBC’s video is a follow-up The Putter, a short film by Shaun Bloodworth, as part of the “Steel Stories” on the Storying Sheffield website.

Making Scissors – Videos

Both videos are worth watching! I’m putting them below for your interest and enjoyment. I found them fascinating, and I hope you will, too.

Note: If you’re reading this through the email newsletter, the videos won’t be visible. You can click through to Needle ‘n Thread here..

BBC Video: The Disappearing Art of Making Scissors by Hand:

The Putter from Storying Sheffield:

Just so you know, I ordered several pairs of embroidery scissors from Ernest Wright & Son. I thought they’d be worth trying out, and when they arrive, I’ll review them for you.