Sewing Machine Knives
Sewing Machine Knives Q & A
What are Sewing Machine Knives Used for?
The knives can trim the fabric on the serger sewing machines even before the stitches are formed! They are a big reason why your edges acquire that neat, finished look.
What is a Serger?
Haven’t used a serger before? Well, if you haven’t, you should because this type of sewing machine can bind fabric together using an overlock stitch. Several stitches go into the creation of one overlock stitch. Pick up any garment and locate the finishing stitches on them. You are looking at the work of a serger!
Where Can the Knife be Found on the Machine?
The knives are located in the part of a serger that cuts material when it passes through the needle. This allows the knives to match the overcast stitch, and the result is a completely encased edge.
Upper and Lower Sewing Machine Knives
You’ll find that both sets of knives work in combination like the blades on a pair of scissors. The one that resembles an upside-down hook is the upper knife. It moves up and down when the fabric is being cut. You’ll find the lower knife beneath the needle plate. It remains stationary during the cutting.
Adjusting the Knife on Your Serger
If you own a serger, check for a dial on it. It will allow you to adjust the distance on the blades of the knives. Most brands build their sergers along the same lines. When using it for your first sewing project, you may want to test it out on a few pieces of test fabric first. Continue to adjust the blade-width of the sewing machine knives. Do that until you find the setting that produces the look you like.
When You Should Disengage the Knife
When you don’t want the knives to cut off the fabric as you sew, disengage them. This also allows you to put down various kinds of decorative stitches, sew away from the edge, do a topstitch, and apply elastic. Since the lower blades are stationary, you can take out the upper ones.
On the other hand, when engaging the blades, you can control how much fabric they will cut from the edges. In most cases, just a small trim off the edge is enough for regular serging stitches. This gives your sewing a neater and more professional look. Moreover, you won’t have to go back and trim the seam! Therefore, the blades also save you time!
Brands Available on GoldStar Tool at present:
- Brother
- Yuki
- Yamato
- Pegasus
- Singer
- Willcox & Gibbs
Check out GoldStar Tool’s entire inventory of sewing machine knives, and if you don’t know which one you need, give us a call at 1.800.868.4419 or visit us online, and our experts will guide you!
-
Fixed-Knife-Juki-40000324
Regular price $12.49Sale price $12.49 Regular price Market price: -
Moveable Sewing Machine Knife - Brother #15915-...
Regular price $29.99Sale price $29.99 Regular price Market price: -
Moveable Knife - Mitsubishi #MF90B2838
Regular price $39.99Sale price $39.99 Regular price Market price: -
Industrial Sewing Machine Moving Knife - JUKI #...
Regular price $118.00Sale price $118.00 Regular price Market price: -
Moving Knife - JUKI #D2423241E00
Regular price $53.99Sale price $53.99 Regular price Market price: -
Upper Knife - Pegasus # 2116621
Regular price $66.99Sale price $66.99 Regular price Market price: -
Upper Knife - JUKI #B411180400A
Regular price $18.99Sale price $18.99 Regular price Market price: -
Overlock Serger Upper Knife Carbide Tip -Brothe...
Regular price $9.99Sale price $9.99 Regular price Market price: -
Knife ST9500 - Avery Dennison #3-05-0027-01
Regular price $64.50Sale price $64.50 Regular price Market price: -
Flat Cutter - JUKI #70000081
Regular price $250.65Sale price $250.65 Regular price Market price: -
Buttonhole Knives - JUKI #B-2702-047-F00
Regular price $7.99Sale price $7.99 Regular price Market price: -
Upper Knife Angled - Brother #S20896-101
Regular price $15.99Sale price $15.99 Regular price Market price: -
BT Trimmer - JUKI #40004311
Regular price $139.99Sale price $139.99 Regular price Market price: -
Moving Knife - Brother #S02645-001
Regular price $12.99Sale price $12.99 Regular price Market price: -
Save 35%
Upper & Lower Knife Set - Singer #412585, #...
Regular price $12.99Sale price $12.99 Regular price Market price:$19.99Sale -
JUKI - Bobbin Thread Trimmer Blade #B-2406-771-0A0
Regular price $19.99Sale price $19.99 Regular price Market price: -
JUKI - Counter Knife - #B-2408-771-000-A
Regular price $12.99Sale price $12.99 Regular price Market price: -
Fixed Knife - Brother #S02637-001
Regular price $12.99Sale price $12.99 Regular price Market price: -
Lower Knife and Upper Knife Set - JUKI #131-505...
Regular price $9.99Sale price $9.99 Regular price Market price: -
Lower Knife - JUKI #700-00399
Regular price $9.99Sale price $9.99 Regular price Market price: -
Thread Trimmer Knife - Reese #20-0094-0-000
Regular price $8.55Sale price $8.55 Regular price Market price: -
4 Thread Overlock Lower Blade - Pegasus #277009-C
Regular price $6.99Sale price $6.99 Regular price Market price: -
Moving Knife - JUKI #213-89200
Regular price $113.88Sale price $113.88 Regular price Market price: -
Fixed Knife - JUKI #213-89309
Regular price $19.99Sale price $19.99 Regular price Market price: -
Overlock Thread Trimmer - JUKI #131-16702
Regular price $4.99Sale price $4.99 Regular price Market price: -
Save 36%
Upper Knife - JUKI #700-00229
Regular price $9.99Sale price $9.99 Regular price Market price:$15.69Sale -
Save 50%
Upper & Lower Knife Set - Singer #412585, #...
Regular price $9.99Sale price $9.99 Regular price Market price:$19.99Sale -
Save 37%
Upper Knife - JUKI #50143403
Regular price $18.00Sale price $18.00 Regular price Market price:$29.00Sale -
Save 30%
Lower Knife - JUKI #50145403
Regular price $18.00Sale price $18.00 Regular price Market price:$26.00Sale -
Upper Knife - JUKI #118-45708
Regular price $7.99Sale price $7.99 Regular price Market price: -
Stationary Knife "B" For Bag Closing ...
Regular price $9.99Sale price $9.99 Regular price Market price:$18.00Sale -
Moving Knife "A" For Bag Closing Mach...
Regular price $9.99Sale price $9.99 Regular price Market price:$18.00Sale -
Save 73%
Bartacking Moving Knife - JUKI #B2421-280-0A0
Regular price $9.99Sale price $9.99 Regular price Market price:$38.25Sale -
Lower Knife - JUKI #115-66502
Regular price $4.75Sale price $4.75 Regular price Market price: -
Upper Knife - JUKI #115-65900
Regular price $14.99Sale price $14.99 Regular price Market price: -
Lower Knife - Brother #112436-0-01
Regular price $4.99Sale price $4.99 Regular price Market price:
What Are Sewing Scissors Used For?
Fabric-specific scissors and shears are used for one thing: cutting fabric.
They should cut smoothly and cleanly and feel comfortable when you use them. You should always use the appropriate type of scissors and shears for your fabric if you want them to last and you want your fabric to cut cleanly.
Using your sewing scissors to cut anything but fabric is a quick way to ruin a good, and possibly expensive, pair of scissors. Keep them sheathed or otherwise properly stored when not in use and always use a different pair of scissors for paper and other non-fabric cutting applications.
Choosing the Right Scissors for Your Fabric
Different types of scissors have specific functions, such as spring-mounted thread clippers, which are perfect for opening buttonholes and snipping off thread ends in everyday sewing. Dressmaker shears are designed to cut just about any type of fabric, from fine silks and cotton to the heaviest denim and leather. Synthetics tend to shred a little with dressmaker shears and standard fabric scissors, so serrated-edged scissors are a much better choice. These Mundial shears have cushioned handles and micro-serrated stainless steel edges that ensure clean cuts without slipping.
Of course, you want to look for a good quality brand. At Goldstar Tool, we carry brands like Mundial, Wescott, Wiss, and our own Goldstar brand of scissors. Scissors can be expensive, but price isn’t always a good indicator of how good they are. Just because they are pricey does not automatically make them good. Stainless steel forged blades are strong, sharp, and will last a long time. When choosing a good pair of blades, you should ask yourself… Are they comfortable? If they don’t feel right when you’re cutting, they’re not right for you. A good pair of shears should be sharp and cut cleanly through your fabric from the start to the end. Of course, with use, they may need sharpening, which should restore them to a like-new condition. However, if they don’t cut well when they’re new, sharpening really won’t help, and it may be time to invest in a better pair. When you buy new shears or scissors, ask yourself… Is it the right type for your needs? Do you need a longer set of dressmaker shears, or would a pair of offset scissors work better? Will they cut thin fabrics as well as thicker fabrics, or do you need a separate pair for heavier materials? Remember that a good pair of scissors is an investment, so put some thought into your choice and be sure to take care of them. Repeatedly buying inexpensive scissors that you throw away can add up to a costly expense.
Dressmaker shears are the most important scissors to have. Heavier than traditional scissors, they’re designed to cut fabrics of all types and typically do so very well. These Mundial shears are engineered for right-handed or left-handed users, and come in 6”, 7” and 8” models (including left-handed 8”.) Our Goldstar brand 8-inch forged stainless steel shears cut the entire length of the blade, all the way to the tip. If you prefer pinking shears, we have two types from the GoldStar line. Our heavy-duty shears have classic metal handles, and the other has cushioned plastic handles. For the quilter, Mundial professional quilting scissors in either 5 ½,” 8 ½, or 9 ½” offer soft grip cushioned insert handles for comfort and extended use. Do you enjoy applique work? Our Mundial applique scissors help you make quick work of trimming around appliques, as well as evenly trimming Are buttonholes your nemesis? Our exclusive buttonhole scissors have a screw that stops you from cutting through your carefully made buttonholes. Safer than regular scissors or a scalpel, the screw limits your cutting length, so you cut exactly the length you need.
Keep your scissors handy with a leather belt/hip holster, animal print belt holster or a lanyard that hangs around your neck. These will keep your shears handy and always available. Rotary cutters are a great way to do precise, fast cuts with ease. Goldstar Tool’s rotary cutters make fast work of whatever you need to cut. We also carry the replacement blades for all of our rotary cutting tools. Straight paper cutting is fast and easy with Westcott Titanium Bonded Paper Trimmer. It trims up to ten sheets of paper quickly with a completely safe, no-touch covered blade assembly.
Caring for Your Shears and Scissors
The first thing you should NEVER do is cut anything but fabric with your scissors and shears intended for fabrics. The second is to never cut into a pin or needle since it will damage them permanently. When you’re finished using your shears, the best thing you can do is wipe the blades with a dry cloth to remove lint, threads, dust, and other small particles that can make them harder to use. Synthetic fibers can also dull the blades. Clean away the dry particles after every use. Keep your shears and scissors working smoothly with a small drop of quality sewing machine oil in the fulcrum or the pivot screw. Carefully open and close them a few times (point down) to distribute the oil, and wipe them, spreading some of the remnant oil over the blades. You want to oil your scissors and shears about once a month, more if you use them daily. Of course, be careful not to drop them, or they could be damaged to the point of being unworkable.
When they just don’t cut like they used to, sharpening is a must to prevent damage to your fabrics. You may have heard that cutting through aluminum foil steel wool and/or sandpaper as a way to quickly sharpen your dulled scissors. Despite their popularity, we don’t recommend these methods. Think about it—if you shouldn’t use your sewing shears and scissors for paper and other things, or attempt to cut through a pin or needle, why would you use either of these to sharpen a blade? There are better ways to sharpen your shears at home or in your commercial shop. Need something small and efficient to keep around? These handy Scissors And Blade Sharpeners are economical, convenient, and sharpen on the fly. Our ExtremEdge V2 Knife and Shear Sharpener is a fast, easy way to sharpen non-serrated scissors and knives safely. The bottom section holds it in place for simple one-handed operation, and it’s sold for a reasonable price. If you have more than a few pairs of scissors, sending them out for sharpening can shut down operations. Our Wolff Industrial Twice as Sharp Scissor Sharpening System is an investment that will save you and your workers time and money, and keep your scissor arsenal sharp and cutting perfectly every time. Priced at under $500, you can sharpen your tools in-house whenever you need to. Plus, it comes with instructions so that anyone can learn to use it for fast on-demand sharpening. Pinking shears, like our own soft-handled or heavy-duty shears, are best sharpened by a professional. There’s no reason to keep working with dull scissors and shears. Get one of our exclusive sharpening tools today.
Why Shop Goldstar Tool for All Your Scissors and Cutting Needs?
From the home hobbyist to commercial shops, factories, and studios, we have what you need for fast, effective, and accurate fabric cutting. At Goldstar Tool, you'll find scissors for dressmaking, pattern-cutting, pinking, embroidery, carpeting, upholstery and much more.GoldStarTool.com is a fully licensed distributor of Wiss and Mundial quality scissors for home and professional use. We also carry our slightly more affordable proprietary brand of scissors through our Goldstar Tool line.