Short vs. Long Thread Snips for Removing a Shirt Button: Which Is Easier to Use?
LEGRAND TESTS / Fabric

Short vs. Long Thread Snips for Removing a Shirt Button: Which Is Easier to Use?

LeGrand Editorial Team

THE QUESTION

When removing a tightly sewn shirt button, are Short or Long Thread Snips easier to get underneath and position around the threads?

THE SHORT ANSWER

With the tightly sewn 0.39-inch (10 mm) shirt button we tested, the Short Thread Snips were easier to get into place and handle in the tight space.

Short vs. Long Thread Snips for Removing a Shirt Button: Which Is Easier to Use?

TEST SETUP

We compared two LeGrand thread snips on the same button of an actual shirt.

Striped shirt and sewn button used in the short vs. long thread snips test

BUTTON

Diameter:
0.39 in (10 mm)

Condition:
Tightly sewn, with limited clearance beneath the button

Side view of the tightly sewn shirt button showing limited clearance beneath the button

TOOLS TESTED

Japanese Short Thread Snips for Sewing – High-Carbon Stainless Steel 4"

Overall length: 4"
Blade length: 1.46"

Japanese Long Thread Snips for Sewing – High-Carbon Stainless Steel 4"

Overall length: 4"
Blade length: 1.9"

Top: Long Thread Snips · Bottom: Short Thread Snips

Long and short Japanese thread snips compared for the shirt button removal test

WHAT WE TESTED

We compared how easily each pair of thread snips could be guided beneath the button and brought into position around the threads.

The test focused on access and handling.

HOW WE TESTED

Each pair of thread snips was tried twice by hand on the same shirt button.



EVIDENCE

SHORT THREAD SNIPS

Short thread snips positioned beneath the shirt button during the removal test

The 1.46-inch Short Thread Snips blades could be positioned beneath the tightly sewn 0.39-inch (10 mm) button.

Short thread snips beneath the shirt button, viewed from a lower angle

The Short Thread Snips beneath the same button, seen from a lower angle.


LONG THREAD SNIPS

Long thread snips positioned beneath the shirt button during the removal test

The 1.9-inch Long Thread Snips blades extended farther beneath the same button.

The longer blades extending farther beneath the same button.

The longer blades extending farther beneath the same button.

WHAT WE NOTICED

The Short Thread Snips went beneath the button easily and were easier to get into place in the limited space.

The Long Thread Snips gave us more reach, but as we guided the longer blades deeper beneath the button, their tips caught on the surrounding shirt fabric and made positioning a little harder.

WHAT THIS TEST SUGGESTS

In this test, more reach did not mean easier positioning. In a tight space like this, extra blade length may matter less than how the tips move around the surrounding fabric.

LIMITS OF THIS TEST

We tested one 0.39-inch (10 mm) button on one shirt, with each pair of thread snips tried twice by hand.

The button was sewn tightly, with limited clearance beneath it. The result applies to the tools and conditions tested and should not be treated as a general rule for all button sizes, garments, or available space beneath a button.

Tools Used in This Test

Japanese Short Thread Snips for Sewing – High-Carbon Stainless Steel 4"

Japanese Short Thread Snips for Sewing – High-Carbon Stainless Steel 4"

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Japanese Long Thread Snips for Sewing – High-Carbon Stainless Steel 4"

Japanese Long Thread Snips for Sewing – High-Carbon Stainless Steel 4"

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