• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Mix Measure Make

A colourful, vintage, and handmade home.

  • Home
  • Mix
    • Decorating with Vintage
    • Decorating with Colour
    • Useful Vintage Decor
    • All Things Holidays
  • Measure
    • DIY House Projects
    • Before and After
  • Make
    • Tutorials
    • Art Challenge
    • Sewing
    • Felt Embroidery
    • Quilting
    • Painting
    • Knitting & Crochet
    • Other Crafts
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookies Policy
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
    • My account
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Home » Using Vintage Scissors – Practical, Decorative, and Not Just Clutter

Using Vintage Scissors – Practical, Decorative, and Not Just Clutter

Danielle · May 4, 2021 ·

6 shares
  • Share2

Using vintage scissors for both decorating and their intended purpose is a great way to combine style and practicality. I’ll show you my small collection of scissors and give you ideas to get started.

Vintage scissors beside a painted wooden quilt block

The beginnings of my collection

I never had any intentions to collect vintage scissors. However, I do use scissors regularly in all my crafty hobbies, and their unique form and function has always appealed to me. I already owned many pairs of modern scissors, but I didn’t have plans for more.

But that all changed. On our honeymoon, we spent a morning at the Portobello Road Market in London, which is a very large flea market. We didn’t buy much that day, but one of the items we did buy was a really neat pair of vintage scissors. We didn’t know anything about them, other than we liked the shape and the patina they had.

Scissors laying on sewing patterns

They have a maker’s mark on them – a V (with a crown symbol) R, followed by Hall & Colley. It is difficult to find out much information about Hall and Colley. They existed from 1845 to about the late 1860s, and were located on Eyre Lane in Sheffield, England. Hall and Colley made scissors, razors and table blades. The VR mark was for Queen Victoria, and it functioned as a sort of royal approval for the quality of the product.

Close up of Hall and Colley Makers Mark

When we got home, I didn’t use the scissors. They just sat on display in my sewing room, a neat souvenir but nothing more.

To read more about vintage items we like to collect on our travels, check out Meaningful Souvenirs: My Top 5 Things to Collect While Travelling.

My collection grows

Some years after our scissors purchase in London, my in-laws gifted me with two other pairs of smaller vintage scissors. By coincidence, they are both a very similar shape and style to the first pair.

The smallest pair also has a maker’s mark on it. It reads United Cutlery Co, Germany. I couldn’t find out much of anything about that company. But I did learn that the funny notch in them means they are button-hole scissors.

Vintage button hole scissors laying on a handmade shirt

I had to look up how they work, but they’re actually really ingenious. When you need to cut a button-hole open, you can safely put the fabric that’s between the button hole and the edge of the garment into the notch (which prevents it from being cut) while you cut open the buttonhole with the tips.

Cutting a button hole with vintage scissors

The medium sized, darker pair of scissors only contain one small marking, which I believe to the imprint of a spade. I haven’t yet made any progress in identifying the maker of these scissors.

scissors lying on cut paper

Using my vintage scissors

Anybody who sews knows that you only cut fabric with your fabric scissors. Cutting paper with them will make them dull, and there’s many internet jokes about what happens when husbands and kids use mom’s fabric scissors for paper.

I had a pair of scissors that I loved that were my multiple purpose, non-fabric, and paper cutting scissors. At least, they were my favourite until one time I tried to cut some thick wire with them and put a huge knick in one blade. After that, they wouldn’t open and close correctly. Oops! Let that be a warning to you – apparently there’s a good reason to not be lazy and go get the wire cutters from the basement.

Because of that mistake, I’ve needed a pair of scissors to cut out my paper sewing patterns, and in a moment of frustration one day, I grabbed my large vintage Hall and Colley scissors. And I was amazed! They cut paper really well. Since then I’ve used them to cut paper and am quite pleased that something that was decorative has now become useful. It’s even more mind blowing knowing that I’m using scissors that are between 155 and 175 years old. Hall and Colley created scissors to last.

3 pairs of vintage scissors

The button-hole scissors still cut well and work for their intended purpose. But until I researched them for this blog post, I hadn’t known what they were and therefore I haven’t used them. I might try them out in the future instead of a seam ripper. They would benefit from a thorough cleaning first though.

The other unidentified scissors also cut cleanly, but are slightly misaligned and tight at the end of the blades. I need to bend them back into shape.

Other kinds of scissors to think about

There are so many different sizes, styles and purposes of scissors out there to collect and use. There are extremely elaborate small sewing scissors, and old school scissors. One item I’ve come close to buying and would still like to buy one day is a pair of very large tailor’s shears. Any that I’ve come across have been quite expensive, however.

An interesting fact: I learned that scissors are no longer called scissors, but instead called shears when they are more than 10 inches long and have one hole that is more oval for multiple fingers. Therefore, scissors were typically symmetrical with equal holes and shears were not. (Nowadays, many scissors are not symmetrical so I’m not sure this rule holds true in present day).

How to display vintage scissors

I currently display my scissors in a vintage cage-style flower frog. Because the bottom is open, I have to make sure that the tips of my scissors are not scratching the table. But I like that I can see the whole shape of the scissors. The grouping becomes almost sculptural.

Trio of vintage scissors standing in a flower frog

Other ideas include storing scissors in a vintage teacup, mug, short vase or crock.

Vintage scissors displayed in a china cup

I also love the idea of displaying scissors on a big peg board among other crafting tools, or in a workshop. This would work well for an oversized pair of tailor’s shears. I would rest them horizontally on hooks to emphasize the non-symmetrical shape.

You can also hang scissors from the pegs of a peg rail. Another idea is to hang vintage garden shears from a hook near a potting station, or hang them in the kitchen for trimming herbs.

Improving or maintaining the function of vintage scissors

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I make a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Read my disclosure for more information.

Recently, I’ve been using and cutting printable Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy Stabilizer a lot for felt embroider projects. It’s a great product that cuts like paper, and I’d be tempted to use my vintage scissors to cut it. However, the stabilizer is an adhesive stabilizer layer stuck onto a removable backing, and it can leave a sticky residue on scissors that are used to cut it. For this reason, I don’t use my good fabric scissors for these tasks. But I’m also careful not to use my vintage scissors either, instead saving them for dry, non-sticky cutting tasks. If I needed to use Goo-Gone to clean them, I might ruin their beautiful patina.

In order to make my other two pairs of vintage scissors more functional, I will need to put in a little bit of effort. The unidentified scissors need someone to carefully bend the tip of one blade. And I am also going to attempt to clean my button-hole scissors before using them. But that’s a project for another day.

Vintage Scissors Pinterest graphic

For more practical vintage, check out the post: Old Wood Boxes and Drawers for Practical Storage Solutions.

To read about my favourite modern scissors for sewing and crafting, check out “Perfect Scissors”.

Would you use vintage scissors?

Using vintage scissors can be a great way to reuse a vintage item, while also having a beautiful object that’s worth displaying.

I love being able to use and decorate with my vintage scissors. But nonetheless, that doesn’t mean I’m going to get rid of all my modern scissors. They all have a purpose, and I say, the more scissors the merrier! Just be sure not to run with them 🙂

Would you use vintage scissors in your own home? What other kinds of vintage tools do you love to use? Let me know in the comments below.

All the best,

Danielle

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Beth says

    October 11, 2021 at 8:34 pm

    I’ve got my great grandma’s shears and pinking shears ( 1910). I use them for most of my quilt making. Had them sharpened and the man tried to buy them off me. Love the fact that they have made generations of wedding dresses and regular clothes.

    • Danielle says

      October 11, 2021 at 9:05 pm

      That’s so wonderful Beth! It’s even more meaningful that you have vintage scissors that belonged to your great grandma, who also used them for sewing. I’m sure your great grandma would be just thrilled that you’re using them to make quilts. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

  2. Emma says

    May 12, 2021 at 4:37 am

    I love antiques, this post makes me so happy to see vintage scissors not only reclaimed, but used in modern day life!

    • Danielle says

      May 12, 2021 at 10:13 am

      Thanks Emma – I’m so glad you enjoy antiques and being able to use them too.

Primary Sidebar

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Danielle of Mix Measure Make

I’m so happy you’re here! I’m a wife, educator, sewist, and artist. I adore all things vintage and colourful, and am always dreaming up my next DIY or craft project. You can get to know me better, and find out what Mix Measure Make is all about here.

Recent Posts

  • May Paintings – Working Through A Creative Slump
  • Avoid Surprises: Guide to Buying Fabric Online – With Confidence!
  • Learning Surface Pattern Design and a Free Art Print!
  • Back to Basics! Learning Helpful Skills with April Art
  • Hanging a Mini Quilt With a Dowel: Best Tutorial & Template

Search Mix Measure Make

Search by Category

Search by Date

Copyright © 2023 Mix Measure Make

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
As an Etsy Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cookies Notice
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of all the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Read our Cookies Policy
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
6 shares