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Best Scissors For Cutting Felt – 17 Of Them – Including Some That Aren’t Scissors! 2024

In my opinion, these are the best scissors to cut felt:

You might be wondering, “Can’t I just use normal scissors to cut felt?”. And, yes, technically you can, but I don’t recommend it and once you see the wonders that proper fabric scissors can do for your felt, you won’t want to use anything else!

A good pair of fabric scissors doesn’t have to cost a bomb either. I’ve tried all sorts of different kinds since I started sewing when I was 11 and now I’m going to share that knowledge with you.

We’ll look at different scissors, from the best-quality to budget-friendly and alternatives to using scissors to cut your felt!

Best Scissors For Cutting Felt in 2023

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Best Large Scissors (Shears) To Cut Felt

Larger fabric scissors (also known as shears) are great for larger felt pattern pieces. Shears have longer blades and a different handle shape for the thumb and fingers compared to regular fabric scissors.

If you’re looking to add a pair of shears to your sewing kit, these are the ones I  recommend:

1. Gingher 8” Knife Edge Fabric Shears

Gingher is my absolute favorite brand – they make really high-quality all-metal scissors. The forged steel blades are so sharp, they cut through felt fabric like butter! The bent handle also makes cutting easier and more comfortable.

It looks great too, with that classy chrome-over-nickel finish.

What I love:

• Incredibly sturdy and sharp blades
• Comfortable grip
• Can cut through several layers of fabric at once
• Long-lasting
• It’s very pretty!

Something to consider:

• It’s quite an investment compared to some other fabric scissors.

2. Kai 8” Dressmaking Shears

These shears are a bit of an open secret among sewists. You’re basically getting incredible quality blades at a budget-friendly price. I’m actually shook at how well these stainless steel blades cut through fabric – yup, even multiple layers!

Although the blades are amazing and they’re generally easy to work with, the handle can start to hurt your fingers and hands when you’ve been cutting fabric for some time. So I’d only buy these if you’re thinking of making a couple of felt projects a few times a year.

Do NOT buy them if you’re planning on using them regularly or for a long period of time, otherwise, your hands won’t thank you. My fingers went numb for several days when I spent an afternoon helping my niece cut out felt shapes (don’t be like me – I thought I would never get the feeling back in my fingers – not a vibe).

What I love:

• Awesome value-for-money!
• Sharp blades
• Can cut through several layers of fabric at once
• Long-lasting

Something to consider:

• The handle can feel a little awkward on the hands after a while

3. SINGER 8” Fabric Shears

For budget-friendly shears that do a decent job of cutting, I recommend a basic pair from this classic sewing brand. Sure, the blades aren’t as sharp as the Gingher or Kai ones, but I find that they still perform pretty well.

The rubberized handles are great too. The grip is surprisingly comfortable.

Given the standard-quality blades, I’d suggest cutting one layer of felt at a time to get a cleaner finish.

What I love:

• Budget-friendly
• Comfortable grip
• Lightweight

Something to consider:

• Not the sharpest blades
• Not recommended for cutting multiple layers

4. Classic 9” Tailor Scissors

If you want something more classic (these look exactly the same as the fabric shears my grandmother and mother used for their sewing), go for these vintage-looking shears!

The industrial-quality blades are made of high-carbon steel (stronger than stainless steel) for a clean finish. The classic bent handles help to hold fabric down for accurate cutting. 

This is a great option if you’re clumsy like me.  I’ve had to replace several pairs of fabric scissors after dropping them – opps. (Of course, try to avoid dropping even the strongest fabric scissors as you may struggle to cut your fabric easily afterwards).

They’re pretty heavy though! If you have a lot of fabric to cut, take some breaks (your fingers will thank you!).

These shears come pre-oiled so make sure to wipe them with a clean cloth before using them on your fabric.

What I love:

• Industrial-quality sharp blades
• Can cut through several layers of fabric at once
• Long-lasting

Something to consider:

• They’re quite heavy

5. Red Dot 8- 1/2 Inch Dressmaker Shears

I wanted to add in another intermediate-priced option for you.  I have several pairs of Mundial fabric scissors in several sizes and have found them to cut really well.  

They aren’t so comfortable on the hands after you’ve used them for a while.  Another downside, they’re not indestructible. I’ve had to replace a few pairs after dropping them (opps).  But if you’re not clumsy like me, I would consider them.

What I love

• Great for cutting felt and other fabrics
• Not that expensive
• The red dot makes them easy to find if you’ve misplaced them
• lightweight 

Something to consider:

• They can be uncomfortable after some time
• Will stop cutting properly if you drop them

Best Scissors For Cutting Smaller pieces of Felt

Now let’s take a look at medium and small fabric scissors you can use for smaller patterns and precise details. Fabric scissors are smaller compared to shears (usually up to 6”) and the handles are the same on both sides.

These are the best medium-sized fabric scissors I recommend:

6. Gingher 5” Knife Edge Sewing Scissors

Just like the full-sized 8” version, these smaller scissors are such a treat to use! You’ll notice this pair has a tight hinge, which is great as the blades work their entire length. They’re accurate for cutting right up to the tip.

All that quality comes with a higher price tag, but I really feel these are worth the splurge given their fantastic results and how long they last.

What I love:

• Super-sharp blades resulting in clean, precise cuts
• Cuts well all the way to the tip
• Comfortable grip
• Long-lasting
• Sleek, timeless look

Something to consider:

• They’re pricey

7. Kai 5 ½” Embroidery Scissors

These sharp, quality scissors are perfect for cutting small pattern pieces, tidying up embroidery work, or snipping threads on the sewing machine.

The hardened stainless steel blades deliver impressive, clean results. The quality is almost comparable to Gingher but at a more pocket-friendly price.

The design is pretty basic, with black rubberized handles. If aesthetics matter to you, then you’ll find these scissors a little lacking in that department.

What I love:

• Awesome value-for-money!
• Sharp blades for precise cuts
• Cuts well all the way to the tip
• Comfortable grip
• Long-lasting

Something to consider:

• Basic-looking design

8. Fiskars 5” Micro-Tip Scissors

I love the design of these scissors! The sharp, honed edge cuts all the way to the tip and makes it easy to get detailed cuts.

I’m a fan of the spring-action feature too. The spring is set at a comfortable tension, so it doesn’t strain the hand much. It feels so comfortable to use the scissors for a long period.

This design is especially helpful for those who struggle using conventional scissors with conditions like arthritis that affect hand strength and mobility.

What I love:

• Innovative and inclusive design
• Sharp, pointed blades that deliver detailed cuts
• Cuts well all the way to the tip
• Super comfortable grip
• Long-lasting
• Budget-friendly

Something to consider:

• Not the best option if you’re looking for conventional-style scissors

9. Singer 4” Embroidery Scissors

Every beginner felt sewing kit needs a basic pair of embroidery scissors! These are my favorite.

The 4” ones are perfect for tidying up sewing projects, especially if you’re working on embroidery or needle felting. The sharp stainless steel blades easily trim threads off. They’re very cute too!

The compact size makes it very travel-friendly.

Because of the small size, the smaller handles are a bit of a squeeze for fingers and can get uncomfortable.

What I love:

• Sharp blades
• Fairly clean lines for detailed cuts
• Travel-friendly size
• The unicorn design is soooo cute!

Something to consider:

• The small handles can get uncomfortable but you shouldn’t be using these for long periods so not a huge issue.

Best Pinking Shears For Felt

Pinking shears are a “nice to have” for felt, but not a necessity unless you’re also getting them to stop other fabrics from fraying. Do not get them if you’re on a budget or just plan on doing a few felt projects.

Use pinking shears to add a zig-zag border to your fabric.

Pinking shears are usually used to stop fabric from fraying but since felt doesn’t fray, pinking shears are only used to add a pretty detail to the edges of felt projects. 

As well as the traditional zig-zag blade you can also get “pinking shears” with a scalloped edge if you’d prefer a rounded rather than sharp edge to your edges.

These are the best pinking shears to get:

10. Fiskars 8” Pinking Shears (Best Quality)

These pinking shears are really well-made! The stainless steel jagged-edge blades produce crisp results, and I like that the extended lower blade helps to lift the fabric a little to make cutting smoother.

The soft-grip handles are super comfortable. The ergonomic bent design helps to pin the fabric down for more accurate cutting, which is especially helpful to get clean lines.

What I love:

• Super-sharp blades resulting in clean zig-zags
• Cuts well all the way to the tip
• Comfortable, ergonomic grip
• Long-lasting

Something to consider:

• Pricey

11. Westcott 9 ½” Pinking Shears (Budget Friendly)

These stainless steel pinking shears deliver decent results at a more budget-friendly price. For a large pair of scissors, they’re pretty lightweight and comfortable to use.

Tip: When using these scissors, it’s best to cut fabric one layer at a time for cleaner results.

What I love:

• Clean zig-zag finish
• Comfortable grip
• Lightweight
• Reasonable pricing

Something to consider:

• Not recommended for cutting through multiple layers

12. Scallop Edged Pinking Shears

As mentioned above if you’d prefer a more rounded edge to a sharper one, then these scalloped edge shears are my pick.

What I love

• Scalloped rather than zig-zag edge decoration
• Cut really well
• Nice and sharp

Something to consider 

• Not that functional, I would only get pinking shears if you think you’ll use them a lot or for other sewing projects (like to stop fabric from fraying)

Best Scissors For Cutting Felt If You Have Arthritis Or Weak Hands

Do you have arthritis?  Or other issues with your hands? Then spring-loaded scissors could be for you. Fiskars are known for theirs.   They’ve been awarded the “ease of use” stamp of approval from the Arthritis Foundation.

They spring open after you’ve made a cut, so you don’t need to manually open them.  This helps reduce the work your hands have to do.  

They’re also great if you have a lot of cutting to do.

If you have issues with your hands but you’re set on getting a rotary cutter, try one specially designed for pain in mind, like the My Comfort CC60 or the Fiskers 60mm rotary cutter (which I’ve just ordered to try out myself, I’ll let you know how it goes).

There are a few different options, so have a look at them to make sure you get the best option for your hands.

More Tools For Cutting Felt

Can you cut felt fabric without using scissors? Yup, you can! These are the alternative felt cutting tools you can use:

My favorite option is to use a rotary cutter. It’s much quicker and easier on the hands.

15. Rotary Cutter

To be honest, OFLA rotary cutters are always my go-to when it comes to cutting out sewing projects. So, maybe I should have put this one at the top of my list… 

The only downside is that they’re not great for small or fiddly pattern pieces but if you have lots of straight lines or gentle curves to cut out in felt, then get these! They’re super sharp and result in really crisp lines.

You MUST use a self-healing mat when using a rotary cutter, otherwise, you will ruin whatever surface you’re working on (or the rotary cutter blade).

You just put your felt on the self-healing mat, transfer your pattern to the felt, then run the rotary cutter along the pattern lines on the fabric to start cutting.

Quilters and some sewists use a ruler and run their rotary cutter along the ruler edge to cut out shapes (usually quilt squares) but I don’t recommend that for felt (unless you are just cutting out shapes with straight lines).

The reason I would be careful doing this (especially if you are a beginner sewist), is that the ruler or the fabric could move and you could ruin your pattern piece or blade or ruler.  Plus most felt patterns will have some curved lines, so you’re better off getting the pattern lines onto the felt (however you choose to do that) and cutting along the pattern lines.

If you’re an intermediate or advanced sewist and you prefer to use a ruler, go for it!

16. Cricut Maker

If you have one, a Cricut Maker is the best machine for cutting felt. It basically automates the pattern cutting (once you set the machine up). Just pick your patterns and this felt die-cutting machine will cut out the pattern pieces for you.

They are expensive though, so I wouldn’t buy one specifically to cut felt, unless you become obsessed or plan on turning your felt-cutting skills into a business.

17. Paper Puncher

If you’re making things like drawstring Halloween felt bags where you need holes all around the fabric, use a puncher!

Small round holes are not always easy to cut using scissors so a puncher is a better tool for this.

Features To Look For In Scissors For Cutting Felt

A sharp pair of fabric scissors is the best tool to cut felt. These are basic features I like to look out for:

• Sharp metal blades: go for high-quality metals like stainless steel and high-carbon steel.
• Sturdy build: well-made scissors feel good in your hands, have a comfortable weight, and last a long time.
• Comfortable handles: ergonomic and padded handles will keep you comfortable as you cut and reduce strain on the hand.
• Specific features: each sewist may have their own needs and preferences for cutting tools. For example, spring-type scissors tend to work better for conditions like arthritis compared to standard scissors.

Features To Avoid When Buying Scissors For Felt

What about features to avoid?

The main thing is to stay away from when cutting felt is using regular (paper) scissors to cut felt.

Yes, they can cut through felt but they’ll struggle. Felt is thick and using paper scissors to cut it can stretch out the felt (when it can’t cut it properly) and you may end up with uneven cut lines which will make putting your felt craft project together challenging and frustrating. 

Cutting Felt: Tips For Beginners

How To Cut Felt With Scissors

Before you think about cutting into your felt:

1. Transfer your pattern onto the felt
2. Cut the fabric along the pattern outlines
3. Use shears or a rotary cutter to cut out large pattern pieces and embroidery scissors (or smaller scissors) if your design is more delicate.

Get the full step-by-step felt cutting guide here or follow my tutorial on making a felt heart!

Felt Cutting Techniques And Tips

To get a clean finish, use these basic cutting techniques:

• Make sure the blades are sharp. If they don’t cut through the fabric easily or leave uneven lines, they need to be sharpened or replaced.
• Use one hand to keep the fabric steady, and the other to cut the fabric.
• Use long, steady movements when cutting. In other words, cut using the whole length of the blade – don’t just cut a little bit at a time – this gives you uneven cut lines
• Don’t cut through sewing pins as they can damage the blades.
• Don’t use your fabric scissors to cut other materials (like paper or cardboard). This will dull the blades.
• Keep scissors in a secure spot, safe from kids and pets. For extra safety measures, keep them in their covers or in a sewing box.

Felt Shears Vs. Scissors: What’s The Difference?

Curious about the differences between scissors and shears? Let’s compare the two:

Characteristics	Scissors	Shears
Size	6” or less	Longer than 6”
Appearance	Shorter blades with symmetrical handles	Long blades with differently-shaped handles for the thumb and fingers
Design	Straight line from the handles to the tip	Bent handles to help hold down fabric
Purpose	Great for cutting fine details and snipping off threads	Great for cutting large patterns

Best Scissors For Cutting Felt FAQs

Do You Need Fabric Scissors To Cut Felt?

Yes, you need fabric scissors to cut felt. These scissors are super sharp, making it easier to get clean lines when cutting felt fabric. Regular scissors can cut through felt, but the results are not as smooth as when you’re using fabric scissors. An alternative is to use a rotary cutter.

What Are The Best Scissors For Cutting Wool Felt?

Use super-sharp scissors by brands like Gingher and Kai or Mundial to cut wool felt. 100% wool felt is thicker and denser than craft felt, and it’s easier to cut through the fabric with sharp blades.

What’s The Best Way To Cut Felt?

The best way to cut felt is to start with a sharp pair of fabric scissors or a rotary cutter. Once your pattern has been transferred to the fabric, cut along the lines in long, smooth movements. Use pattern weights or one hand to hold the felt still, and the other to cut.

What’s The Best Die Cutter For Felt?

Cricut Maker is the best die cutter for felt. It’s able to produce precise results based on your pattern. It’s a convenient way to have the cutting done for you.

Can You Cut Felt With Pinking Shears?

Yes, you can cut felt with pinking shears. They’ll give you a zig-zag finish on the edges. They’re usually used to stop fabric from fraying. Since felt doesn’t fray, the zig-zags add a cute detail only. Pinking shears are expensive, so I wouldn’t buy them just to cut felt.

Can You Cut Felt With A Paper Punch?

Yes, you can cut felt with a paper punch. This tool is best used to punch round holes in the fabric. It’s easier to use a puncher to get smooth, small circles compared to using fabric scissors.

Can Regular Scissors Be Used To Cut Felt?

yes, regular scissors can be used to cut felt but I don’t recommend doing this. Felt is a pretty thick material, and you need really sharp scissors that are meant to cut fabric. If you use regular scissors you may end up with misshapen felt and uneven lines.

My trusty Mundial scissors that are great for cutting out felt.

Summary On The Best Scissors For Cutting Felt

I hope this overview of which scissors are best to cut felt was helpful for you.  Let me know in the comments what your favorites are! To recap:

In my opinion, the best quality pair of scissors for felt are theGingher 8” Knife Edge Fabric Shears.The best Budget-Friendly scissors are the SINGER 8” Fabric Shears.

For larger pattern pieces use Kai 8” Dressmaking Shears.For smaller felt patterns and trimming threads use the Gingher 5” Knife Edge Sewing Scissors.

In the nice to have but not necessary category and if you want to add details to the edges of your pattern use the Fiskars 8” Pinking Shears.

And although they’re not scissors, the rotary cutter deserves an honorable mention as my overall favorite for cutting out felt (unless it’s a small fiddly pattern piece).

Once you’ve decided on which scissors are best for you, learn about the different techniques you can use to cut out felt neatly.

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