Looking for Righty Scissors for a Lefty
November 20, 2010 8:34 AM Subscribe
I hate scissors. But I don't want to...
I'm left-handed and learned to cut with "righty" scissors. This means I manipulate my hand in a weird way to make it work. Years of working with righty scissors means that I have trouble with lefty scissors. I can't even make them work. But I'm not that good with a pair of righty scissors, either. Last night a cutting project that should have taken 20 minutes took over an hour, produced pretty lousy results and left me with a swollen hand.
The problem is most pronounced with sewing scissors because typically they're molded for your "comfort", which for me means painful plastic ridges that get in the way. And I'm really wanting to sew more, but a good cut is so crucial and it's just too time-consuming right now.
Sure, I could probably do some remedial cutting training, but I'd rather find some awesome SHARP fabric scissors that won't leave me hurting. Any recommendations?
I'm left-handed and learned to cut with "righty" scissors. This means I manipulate my hand in a weird way to make it work. Years of working with righty scissors means that I have trouble with lefty scissors. I can't even make them work. But I'm not that good with a pair of righty scissors, either. Last night a cutting project that should have taken 20 minutes took over an hour, produced pretty lousy results and left me with a swollen hand.
The problem is most pronounced with sewing scissors because typically they're molded for your "comfort", which for me means painful plastic ridges that get in the way. And I'm really wanting to sew more, but a good cut is so crucial and it's just too time-consuming right now.
Sure, I could probably do some remedial cutting training, but I'd rather find some awesome SHARP fabric scissors that won't leave me hurting. Any recommendations?
Can you use a rotary cutter for the big work and learn how to use lefty scissors properly for detail work?
posted by cooker girl at 8:49 AM on November 20, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by cooker girl at 8:49 AM on November 20, 2010 [4 favorites]
lefty here - a couple of suggestions:
- aren't a lot of newer scissors ambidextrous and made in a way that the tension is supplied by the scissors themselves? I realize this may be the typical el-cheapo paper cutting scissors that I'm talking about - I don't do a lot of fabric cutting.
- I know retraining yourself sucks, but seriously - if the model you want to use isn't found in an ambi version, you're gonna have to either get proper left-handed scissors or use right-handed scissors in the right hand. I'm not sure how you even managed to teach yourself the contortion necessary to angle the scissor blades against each other while holding them in the wrong hand for the scissors, but it gives me a cramp just thinking about it.
The good news is that all these left-handed websites that sell stuff made for southpaws mean that you would probably find it easier to get a good pair of left-handed scissors than in times past.
posted by randomkeystrike at 8:51 AM on November 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
- aren't a lot of newer scissors ambidextrous and made in a way that the tension is supplied by the scissors themselves? I realize this may be the typical el-cheapo paper cutting scissors that I'm talking about - I don't do a lot of fabric cutting.
- I know retraining yourself sucks, but seriously - if the model you want to use isn't found in an ambi version, you're gonna have to either get proper left-handed scissors or use right-handed scissors in the right hand. I'm not sure how you even managed to teach yourself the contortion necessary to angle the scissor blades against each other while holding them in the wrong hand for the scissors, but it gives me a cramp just thinking about it.
The good news is that all these left-handed websites that sell stuff made for southpaws mean that you would probably find it easier to get a good pair of left-handed scissors than in times past.
posted by randomkeystrike at 8:51 AM on November 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
2nding cooker girl's idea about the rotary cutter - Mrs. RKS used to do a lot of sewing and that was her favorite tool. You also need a cutting board, of course.
posted by randomkeystrike at 8:52 AM on November 20, 2010
posted by randomkeystrike at 8:52 AM on November 20, 2010
My former stepmother was a lefty who used scissors with her right hand. She also did a lot of sewing and crafting, which necessitated lots of cutting. She used Fiskars brand ambidextrous scissors (these look similar to what she had).
posted by amyms at 8:55 AM on November 20, 2010
posted by amyms at 8:55 AM on November 20, 2010
Ever try electric? Not good for everything and noisy. Also better quality scissors, sharp, and the right size/type for the job will help a lot.
posted by sammyo at 8:55 AM on November 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by sammyo at 8:55 AM on November 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Boy I feel your pain, I've so been there. You might find some traditional Japanese scissors worth a try (otherwise, perhaps you find something else on that site; haven't looked now).
Otherwise I did two things: I analyzed why leftie scissors didn't work (learned to press the wrong way in order to use right-hand scissors well), and so, if I use them now, I try to not push the wrong way, as in: blades apart. Took a while, but is well worth it. Just, you know, re-learn.
That wisdom helped me a lot to further refine my right-hand scissors technique as well. It is a matter of sitting back and contemplating, making the cutting a conscious process again.
But those molded handles are a nightmare. One would like to lock up their inventors in a house entirely equipped with leftie products to make them appreciate just how idiotic they are.
posted by Namlit at 9:00 AM on November 20, 2010
Otherwise I did two things: I analyzed why leftie scissors didn't work (learned to press the wrong way in order to use right-hand scissors well), and so, if I use them now, I try to not push the wrong way, as in: blades apart. Took a while, but is well worth it. Just, you know, re-learn.
That wisdom helped me a lot to further refine my right-hand scissors technique as well. It is a matter of sitting back and contemplating, making the cutting a conscious process again.
But those molded handles are a nightmare. One would like to lock up their inventors in a house entirely equipped with leftie products to make them appreciate just how idiotic they are.
posted by Namlit at 9:00 AM on November 20, 2010
That is: "lock up their presumably right-handed inventors.....just how idiotic the molded handles are."
posted by Namlit at 9:02 AM on November 20, 2010
posted by Namlit at 9:02 AM on November 20, 2010
Another lefty who learned--and I use that word loosely--to cut with right-handed scissors, and I also came to recommend Fiskars ambidextrous.
I've tried and tried to teach myself to cut left handed, and the results are even worse than they are when I'm cutting right handed. And, not being a child anymore, I don't have time to sit there and totally relearn a basic skill that I use on a relatively infrequent basis.
The Fiskars aren't perfect, but they're far and away the most comfortable scissors I've used. Extended use will still leave an occasional ridge on my hand, but it's a damn sight better than anything else. I have half a dozen pairs and keep them all over--kitchen (because they work better for me than kitchen shears do), bathroom, bedroom, work, home office... Try a pair first, obviously, but I found them to be well worth the investment.
posted by MeghanC at 9:04 AM on November 20, 2010
I've tried and tried to teach myself to cut left handed, and the results are even worse than they are when I'm cutting right handed. And, not being a child anymore, I don't have time to sit there and totally relearn a basic skill that I use on a relatively infrequent basis.
The Fiskars aren't perfect, but they're far and away the most comfortable scissors I've used. Extended use will still leave an occasional ridge on my hand, but it's a damn sight better than anything else. I have half a dozen pairs and keep them all over--kitchen (because they work better for me than kitchen shears do), bathroom, bedroom, work, home office... Try a pair first, obviously, but I found them to be well worth the investment.
posted by MeghanC at 9:04 AM on November 20, 2010
I am a righty and use my rotary cutter apt (I have the fresh cut on my knuckle to prove it!
I use Kai scissors. They are the nicest scissors I've used. They have a lefty version you could try.
posted by vespabelle at 9:34 AM on November 20, 2010
I use Kai scissors. They are the nicest scissors I've used. They have a lefty version you could try.
posted by vespabelle at 9:34 AM on November 20, 2010
It is not about the scissors being sharp so much as the scissors being tight, so the blades slide along each other. Most scissors have some play, so you mesh the blades by pushing out with your thumb and pulling in with your finger(s), provided you are using scissors that match your left or right hand. When you use the opposite hand you force the blades apart, which results in an opening between the blades and a poor cut. Once you visualize what's happening, it should be easy to cut with almost any scissors. Otherwise, get a very tight pair of scissors and cut without using any sideways pressure with your thumb or fingers.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:36 AM on November 20, 2010
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:36 AM on November 20, 2010
W-G P is exactly right. I'm a lefty, and I've always used righty scissors. The quality of the scissors and a close tolerance between blades makes a big difference. I've got a pair of really good scissors designed for cutting through belt leather that I got at Tandy Leather, and I find them easy to use.
I'm also a big fan of X-acto knives and rotary cutters.
posted by adamrice at 9:42 AM on November 20, 2010
I'm also a big fan of X-acto knives and rotary cutters.
posted by adamrice at 9:42 AM on November 20, 2010
I'm bad with righty scissors just because I'm clumsy, and I really like Fiskars Flat Bottom shears. I've used a rotary cutter and it's great, but I find these work a lot better for corners and for notching sleeves and whatnot. Maybe a rotary/flat-bottom combo would work for you?
posted by headspace at 9:59 AM on November 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by headspace at 9:59 AM on November 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm another lefty with the same problem. Thanks for asking this question, I have been trying to find a solution to this for a long time!
posted by TurkishGolds at 10:02 AM on November 20, 2010
posted by TurkishGolds at 10:02 AM on November 20, 2010
I'm a lefty, and I use right-handed scissors, because they actually let me have more control than with lefty scissors. Here's how it works: the scissors go in my right hand. The right hand's only job is just to open and close the scissors. The left hand's job is to hold what I'm cutting, and to move it as I cut. This allows for much finer adjustments than trying to move the scissors around, and I don't have to bend my wrists at odd angles or whatever.
Here, I made a YouTube video of how I do it.
posted by zsazsa at 11:02 AM on November 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
Here, I made a YouTube video of how I do it.
posted by zsazsa at 11:02 AM on November 20, 2010 [1 favorite]
My lefty sewing mom used to have some nifty electric scissors. They were not too big, ran on batteries, and worked great for her. She used those or her lefty scissors, and woe be unto the child who lost the lefties.
posted by SLC Mom at 11:18 AM on November 20, 2010
posted by SLC Mom at 11:18 AM on November 20, 2010
A couple of trips to a thift store may turn up some old-fashioned non-handed, no-comfort-grip scissors that you can take to a sharpener, if those would be easier to use lefty. The blades would probably still go the "righty" way but without the annoying ridges.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:27 AM on November 20, 2010
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:27 AM on November 20, 2010
Yeah, I think your best options are:
1) rotary cutter for big stuff, they totally rock
and if not
2) Retrain yourself consciously to use good left-handed scissors properly
and if not either of the above options then
3). Train yourself to use right-handed scissors with your right hand. I am so glad that only crappy right-handed scissors were available when I (totally left-handed and 100% left-sided) learned how to cut in kindergarten; I gave up and did it with my right hand, and scissoring remains pretty much the only thing I do with my right hand.
posted by charmedimsure at 11:51 AM on November 20, 2010
1) rotary cutter for big stuff, they totally rock
and if not
2) Retrain yourself consciously to use good left-handed scissors properly
and if not either of the above options then
3). Train yourself to use right-handed scissors with your right hand. I am so glad that only crappy right-handed scissors were available when I (totally left-handed and 100% left-sided) learned how to cut in kindergarten; I gave up and did it with my right hand, and scissoring remains pretty much the only thing I do with my right hand.
posted by charmedimsure at 11:51 AM on November 20, 2010
Mr. crankylex is a lefty who cuts right handed with ambidextrous scissors. We have a cheap pair of Ikea scissors that we use in the house, but the Fiskars are way nicer.
posted by crankylex at 3:15 PM on November 20, 2010
posted by crankylex at 3:15 PM on November 20, 2010
It seems like the problem you're having is less related to the right-left issue and more the sort of problem people with arthritis have with scissors - because you need to hold them in a specific way, and they're molded wrong, they hurt you. So maybe ambidextrous scissors designed for people with arthritis? Different design, same manufacturer.
posted by gingerest at 6:50 PM on November 20, 2010
posted by gingerest at 6:50 PM on November 20, 2010
Response by poster: Well, my cutting agony is greatly reduced. I'm taking an online sewing course and one of the first lessons was how to cut properly. I found out just how terrible my technique was and have been retraining myself. It's a huge difference. Not perfect, but better. And I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of my new LEFT-HANDED Gingher sewing shears, recommended by my teacher.
posted by wallaby at 2:42 PM on February 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by wallaby at 2:42 PM on February 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
I had to use lefty scissors once while helping out with a craft project in a classroom (they were the only scissors left over after all the kids had taken theirs). I got them to "work" but it took a long time, the results were crappy, and it was a huge PITA. The biggest problem, even if you can get them to cut, is that you can't see the work that you're doing (it's blocked by the blade), and that's going to continue to be a problem for you unless you start using correct-handed scissors.
They do make ambidextrous scissors, so if you really don't want to re-train yourself that's probably where you should start. If you go into a fabric/craft store and ask, they'll probably be able to show you some options.
posted by phunniemee at 8:47 AM on November 20, 2010