This article was written as part of a paid partnership with LDH Scissors.
Also, apologies for the terrible pun in the title, I couldn’t resist.
I have a tendency to ‘make do’ with what I have. Whether it’s a pair of trainers that are literally falling apart, a towel that’s gone all scratchy, or tights that have had endless holes repaired, if something does the job, I’ll carry on using it. My fabric shears had definitely fallen into this category, I just didn’t know it.
I bought my scissors when I went to study fashion at uni back in 2006. I don’t know how you were when it came to spending your student loan, but I definitely didn’t invest in the best pair of scissors that I could have. And yet, that pair of scissors saw me through my degree and onto many happy years of crafting and sewing since. They did the job. I just didn’t realise they were doing a bit of a substandard job that whole time.
The lovely folks at LDH Scissors approached me and asked if I would be interested in a pair of scissors and a rotary cutter. I’ve heard nothing but positive reviews of LDH, so I jumped at the chance to give their tools a try. Here’s a review of how I’ve got on with both tools so far:
Midnight Edition 8” fabric shears
Before you even get to the scissors, there’s the matter of the super sexy box. I’ve been using these for a few months now and I keep them in the box religiously. Partly because they look so nice in the box, but also because they are so so sharp that I’m scared to keep them anywhere else.
But the main event is of course, how well they cut. It’s a bit of a weird observation to make, but before I cut anything I noticed these make a really satisfying sound. You can almost hear how sharp they are, so I had high hopes for them and they didn’t disappoint. These are so sharp right to the tip, so you can make strong, precise, confident chops through your fabric. I’ve found with other scissors that the tip isn’t very sharp, so I have to place the fabric further down the blade – quite risky at times in case of slipping or cutting too far! With the LDH shears, I can confidently use the very tip of the scissors to cut intricate parts of my sewing projects, such as collars and notches.
In the name of science, I thought it would be good to do a comparison of how the two scissors cut. Aside from the precise cut from the LDH scissors, I was really surprised by the smoothness of the motion of cutting. I didn’t realise before how juddery my old pair is, whereas the LDHs have a really smooth function.
The fabric in the left image is cut by the LDH pair and on the right is my old pair of scissors. You can see a slight step in the cut on the second image where the scissors have to be repositioned, but overall there isn’t a ‘clutch the pearls’ moment when you see the difference! The main difference I felt was the experience of cutting. There is A LOT of cutting involved in sewing, and the LDH pair makes for such a pleasant experience, from the smooth mechanics to the ease with which they cut, making the overall precision noticeably different.
The scissors are sturdy and a good weight, heavy enough that they feel really well made, but not so heavy that they’re difficult to use. That being said, I have no mobility issues and I haven’t done mammoth sessions of cutting.
One thing I do feel is important to emphasise is just how sharp these are – I have a 4 year old and I’m really conscious of leaving these out. If you’re thinking of getting a pair, make sure you always put them in their box and away from curious hands!
Midnight Edition Rotary Cutter
In the scissors vs rotary cutter debate, I have always said I’m team scissors. A few years ago I bought a rotary cutter and it was so horrible to use. The blade was blunt so I had to press down really hard to cut fabric and it was all round a truly unpleasant experience. I put this down to me being left handed, and I just thought it was a preference thing. Maybe rotary cutters just weren’t for me. Because of this, I was a bit more dubious when it came to trying the Midnight Edition Rotary Cutter.
The cutter comes in a felt pouch, which is really handy for storing it in. It also has a safety function so you can retract the blade, and… it’s ambidextrous! It’s great to be able to use the cutter in both hands. As a leftie, you learn to use both hands for different tasks, so being able to switch is a huge bonus.
And how did it cut? I was genuinely shocked at how well it glides through fabric. I really thought rotary cutters needed a lot of welly behind them, but these just slice through beautifully. I did a comparison to see the difference between the two. In the first photo you can see the LDH rotary cutter just sliced straight through with minimal pressure. In the next photo you can see a faint line to the left of the slice – that’s where I tried to cut with the old rotary cutter, and I even upped the pressure. Yikes.
It took three tries with the old pair, increasing the amount of pressure each time and even by the third try the old rotary cutter didn’t cut through the cotton.
It’s so satisfying to see the blade making light work of slicing the fabric, and it’s saving me so much time with cutting out. On straight edges I no longer need to pin so much, and just hold the pattern in place to whizz around with the rotary cutter. I’ve found small curves a bit of a challenge, I think because of the size of the wheel, so then I switch to my shears.
So it’s fair to say my opinion has been swayed and I am now 100% pro rotary cutter! It definitely rings true that by buying cheap you buy twice. I completely wrote off rotary cutters because of a bad experience with a cheap set. LDH products aren’t the cheapest, but for good reason. The workmanship and care that goes into every tool they make is so clear in their products. These are exceptional quality, built to last. I’m going to do everything I can to keep these in good condition, including oiling and sharpening, so they can be used and cherished for years to come. And what two items are on my Christmas list? The Midnight Edition Pinking Shears and the Prism Thread Snips for a full LDH tool kit!
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