Thread Snips

Definition and Overview

Thread snips are small scissors used in sewing processes and hand sewing to cut thread ends. Their tips can easily be placed near seams, making them suitable for finer work than ordinary scissors. In sewing factories, they are also used for thread trimming and finishing before inspection.

The typical design closes the blades with gripping force and opens them again with spring force when you relax your hand. However, regardless of shape, small scissors in general may also be called small snips, and usage of the names varies by workplace.

How to Use

When cutting thread, do not press the blade tips firmly against the seam or textile surface; place only the thread you want to cut between the blades. Cutting close to the base of the seam helps keep thread ends short, but to avoid cutting the sewing thread itself, check the position little by little as you work.

During sewing, it is important to keep them in a position that is easy to handle with your dominant hand and not to cut while pulling the thread. In particular, thin fabrics, fuzzy materials, and knits allow the blade tips to enter the textile or stitches easily, so lift the seam and identify what you are cutting.

• Cut the top and bottom threads that appear at the start and end of machine stitching
• Cut the thread chain of an overlock machine to the required length
• Trim thread ends after attaching buttons or hand hemming
• Remove any unnecessary thread left during inspection

Types and How to Choose

Thread snips include spring-opening grip scissors as well as small scissors with finger holes. Grip scissors are easy to open and close continuously with one hand and are widely used in sewing work. Finger-hole types have the same feel as ordinary scissors and are chosen when you want to cut precisely at a specific point.

When selecting them, check the fineness of the tips, blade length, ease of opening and closing, and how comfortably they fit in your hand. If the main purpose is trimming thread close to seams, a fine tip is useful. On the other hand, if you frequently cut thick thread or multiple threads, blade rigidity and cutting sharpness are more important.

Tailor's shears are tools for cutting textile, and their purpose differs from thread snips. Using thread snips to cut textile can damage the blades, while continuing to cut only thread with tailor's shears makes detailed work difficult, so use them according to their intended purpose.

Care and Safety Notes

After use, remove lint and dust from the blades with a dry cloth and store them away from humidity. If dirt builds up at the blade joint, it can affect opening and closing and cutting performance, so inspect the condition instead of forcing the tool to cut. If you use oil for blades, use only a very small amount and wipe it off so it does not transfer to textile or products.

The tips are sharp, and they may chip or cause injury if dropped from a table or if they come into contact with other tools. When not in use, do not point the tips toward people and store them in a box or similar container. Even when placing them on a worktable, it is safer to keep a fixed spot for them so they do not get buried under cloth or thread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can thread snips also be used as tailor's shears?

Basically, they should not be used interchangeably; use them according to their purpose. Thread snips are tools for finely cutting thread ends and are not suitable for cutting textile. Cutting textile can reduce sharpness or damage the tips. Use tailor's shears for cutting.

Are grip scissors and small scissors the same thing?

Grip scissors is a name that often refers to the style used by gripping them without putting your fingers through the holes, with the blades opening by spring action. Small scissors may refer to small scissors in general. For that reason, some workplaces treat the two as synonyms, but strictly speaking, the range they refer to may differ.

What should I do if thread snips become dull?

First, remove any thread scraps or dirt caught on the blades and check for chipping, warping, and the condition of the spring. If there is no improvement, consider consulting a specialist who handles blade sharpening. Forcing them to cut thick cord or paper can make the condition worse.