A Cut Above with Kai Scissors

Choosing the right pair of scissors to use while sewing apparel is just one of those things- you don’t know what you have been missing until you try the very best. This is what happened to me when I tried my first pair of Kai scissors. While attending the Sewing and Stitchery Expo last year in Puyallup, Washington, I took the leap and bought my first pair. With the help of the Kai representative, I chose the 7250 10” Professional Shears. These were explained to be ideal for most apparel projects, and a perfect all-purpose pair for a first-time Kai purchaser. I had never tried high-end scissors before, but I had heard so much about them on sewing boards across the internet that I was excited to finally treat myself to a pair.

Once I got home, I tried a cut on some of my favorite French terry, and I was shocked. Not a single snag or pull, and the cut was clean and accurate. Curious, I folded my French terry not once, but twice, making it four layers thick, and the Kai shears STILL cut smoothly and precisely through the fabric. Everything felt easy, like I was cutting through nothing at all. Even cutting tiny snips for notches was a breeze. Now, after using them daily for more than a year, it’s evident to me why Kai has the reputation for being the smoothest, sharpest cut in the market.

What Sets Kai Apart

I recently spoke with Kai’s Devin Head, to find out what makes Kai Scissors so special. He explained to me that Kai is a Japan-based company which for over 100 years has been making exceptional scissors and shears. Devin tells me that Kai’s high emphasis on precision and the quality of their metals is what sets them apart from their competitors. This is particularly true in regard to their Professional Series, with its own special proprietary blend of metal and made in-house. This incredibly hard and high-quality metal allows the blades made with it to be sharper and longer-lasting.

Recommended Products

If you’re like I was and new to the high-end sewing scissor market, it can be hard to know where to start. Devin recommends one of Kai’s convenient 3-piece sets, starting with their GS1 set, which features their cost effective 5000 series in a 4” thread scissor, 5.5” snips, and 8” dressmaker shear. If you’d like something that’s really top of the line, Devin recommends the GS7 set, which includes three popular sizes of their Professional 7000 series. Having owned and loved one of their 7000 series pairs myself, I can personally recommend these to everyone (I would actually like to shout it from a convenient nearby rooftop, but I digress…).

Kai also makes excellent rotary cutters, which are especially nice for those of us who are trying out the new trend of using a projector for sewing patterns. Kai’s rotary cutter blades are made with tungsten steel and feature spring-loaded blade guards that is safe and easy-to-use.

Care

While Devin recommends having Kai scissors sharpened whenever one feels a snag or a tug while in use, a sewist who uses them daily should plan on having them regularly sharpened every one to two years. This will keep the blades at their peak sharpness and precision. And as always, only ever use your Kai scissors on fabric!

Kai Giveaway!

As if they weren’t wonderful enough, Kai has generously offered a SPECIAL GIVEAWAY for one lucky blog reader!

Here’s what you have to do to win: