Sewing Scissors — cutting paper

Written By Dana Smith

Well, color me surprised — I always thought that paper was no harder to cut, I just assumed that it was simply the additional cutting is why people thought cutting paper dulled sewing scissors. This is from Microsoft Copilot:


Why Paper Dulls Sewing Scissors Faster Than Fabric

1. Paper isn’t “soft” — it’s basically wood

Paper is made from wood pulp, and even though it feels soft, it contains:

  • Cellulose fibers (tougher than cotton or wool)

  • Mineral fillers like clay, calcium carbonate, or talc

  • Sizing agents that add hardness and abrasion resistance

Those mineral fillers are the real culprits — they act like tiny abrasives, wearing down the fine cutting edge of fabric scissors.

Fabric, by contrast, is usually:

  • Cotton

  • Wool

  • Silk

  • Polyester

  • Nylon

All of which are softer than paper from a blade’s perspective.

2. Fabric scissors have a very fine, sharp edge

Good sewing shears are ground to a narrow, precise bevel so they can slice cleanly through:

  • Woven fibers

  • Multiple layers

  • Delicate fabrics

That fine edge is more vulnerable to abrasion than the chunkier bevel on general-purpose scissors.

Cutting paper = rubbing that fine edge against minerals and wood fibers.

3. Paper creates more friction than fabric

Fabric tends to slide between the blades. Paper tends to drag.

More drag = more heat + more micro‑abrasion = faster dulling.

Dana Smith
Next

Solar powered