Hey everyone. Today you're going to learn a simple safety routine for small, sharp scissors, so your 711L stays ready and nobody gets poked.
Here's the problem, y'all. A micro tip is tiny. That is the whole point. It snips tight threads. It reaches hard places. But a fine point left open on a crowded table is easy to bump. It can jab fabric. It can nick a finger. Most accidents in my studio were little surprises from a tool I left open and forgot.
So here's what I use, and how I handle it. These are the Famoré 711L scissors. They are 4 inches long, true left-handed, with a straight micro tip and large rings. I reach for them in my left hand to snip tiny, hard-to-reach places, trim tight threads, and help start buttonholes. That sharp point does beautiful close work. It also deserves a routine. Respect the point, and it will treat you really really well.
What You Need
- 711L - True Left-Handed Straight Micro Tip, Large Ring Scissors (4in)
- A small, closed case or point protector for storage
- A flat, clear spot at your cutting table for the scissors to rest
- A separate scrap bin for bent pins and dull blades, if you use them nearby
- Good light over your work area
- Your current project, with threads ready to trim
- A soft, dry cloth for wiping the blades
The Steps
- Start closed, every time. Pick the scissors up closed. Keep them closed while you walk, turn, or reach for fabric. Open them only when your left hand is over the work and your eyes are on the tip. Here we go. That one habit prevents most pokes.
- Make a home spot on the table. Pick one flat spot, away from the table edge. Mine is to the left of my machine, tips pointing away from me. Put the 711L back in that same spot, closed, after every snip session. No tossing it on fabric. No hiding it under scraps.
- Snip small, then close. Work in short sets. Trim 4 or 5 tight threads. Close the blades. Check your work. Open again only for the next set. That pause takes 2 seconds, and it keeps an open point from sitting in a pile of fabric while you hunt for the next thread.
- Keep fingers clear of the tip path. Hold fabric with your right hand, well back from the cutting spot. Never hold a thread taut right in front of the point. Slow down here, folks, or the tip can slip past the thread and poke the fabric, or you. Concrete warning, not scolding.
- Hand it over closed, or set it down. Never hand open scissors to someone. Close them first. Better yet, set them closed on the table and let the other person pick them up. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
- Do a sharps sweep before you leave. Before you stand up, count your sharps back to their spots. Scissors closed in their case. Pins back in their cushion. Loose blades in their container, never loose in a drawer. Take 1 minute. Check under your project once. Just like that, your table is safe tomorrow.
Tips From My Table
- Use the large rings to relax your grip. A relaxed left hand closes the blades fully without a hard squeeze. A tense grip gets sloppy, and sloppy is where accidents start.
- Keep this pair for fabric and thread only. Paper, cardboard, and packaging will dull that fine micro tip fast. A dull tip makes you push harder, and pushing harder is never safer.
- It doesn't have to be perfect. A missed thread can wait 10 seconds while you close the scissors and reposition. You're your own worst critic. Take your time. It's not a race.
- I learned this the plain way. I once left a small pair open under a trimmed block. I reached in, found the point first, and got lucky with only a poke. Now the home spot is a real rule on my table. Completely up to you, but I recommend it.
A Quick Care Note
Wipe the blades with a soft, dry cloth when you're done. Close the scissors before you store them. Keep them in a case, point protected, in a dry spot. Check the tip weekly. If it feels bent, stop using it for close work until you can have it checked.
Alrighty, folks. Start closed. Use a home spot. Sweep before you leave. Thanks for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 711L - True Left-Handed Straight Micro Tip, Large Ring Scissors (4in) at Linda's Electric Quilters.
