LEGRAND TESTS / Fabric

How Cleanly Do Thread Snips and Embroidery Scissors Cut Floss at Mid-Blade?

LeGrand Editorial Team October 19, 2026

THE QUESTION

How do thread snips and conventional embroidery scissors compare when cutting 1, 3, and 6 strands of embroidery floss at the middle of the blades?

THE SHORT ANSWER

At mid-blade, both tools completely cut the 1-, 3-, and 6-strand embroidery floss samples in both trials. The clearest photographed cut-end difference appeared at 3 strands, where the thread-snips sample looked more compact, while the thread snips also produced less drag during cutting.

How Cleanly Do Thread Snips and Embroidery Scissors Cut Floss at Mid-Blade?

TEST SETUP

We compared LeGrand Thread Snips with conventional 4-inch embroidery scissors using the same embroidery floss.

TOOLS TESTED

Japanese Short Thread Snips for Sewing – Oxidized White Super Steel 4"

Overall length: 4"
Blade length: 1.57"

Conventional Embroidery Scissors

Overall length: 4"

Thread snips and conventional small scissors used for an embroidery floss cutting test

WHAT WE TESTED

The same embroidery floss was separated into three conditions:

1 strand
3 strands
6 strands

The purpose was not to find the maximum number of strands each tool could cut. We compared whether each sample could be completely cut in a single cut and examined the cut ends after cutting.

All cuts in this test were made at the middle of the blades.

Embroidery floss cutting test setup with 1, 3, and 6 strand samples

HOW WE TESTED

Each floss sample was held under light tension without being pulled taut.

Each cut was made with one close of the blades at mid-blade.

Conventional small scissors cutting embroidery floss at the middle of the blades

Thread snips cutting embroidery floss at the middle of the blades

We performed two trials for each strand count with each tool, for a total of 12 cuts.

The cut ends were left untouched after cutting so they could be photographed as they appeared immediately after the cut.

EVIDENCE

Both tools completely cut the 1-, 3-, and 6-strand embroidery floss samples in both trials at mid-blade.

CONVENTIONAL EMBROIDERY SCISSORS

1 strand

In the photographed sample, the cut end showed slight fuzz, but the visible difference from the thread-snips sample was small.

Close-up of 1-strand embroidery floss cut with conventional small scissors at the middle of the blades

3 strands

In the photographed sample, the cut end appeared more splayed, with the fibers separating visibly from one another.

Close-up of 3-strand embroidery floss cut with conventional small scissors at the middle of the blades

6 strands

In the photographed sample, the cut end appeared slightly angled, with a small projecting fiber at one side.
Close-up of 6-strand embroidery floss cut with conventional small scissors at the middle of the blades

LEGRAND THREAD SNIPS

1 strand

In the photographed sample, the cut end appeared clean. The visible difference between the two tools was small at this strand count.

Close-up of 1-strand embroidery floss cut with thread snips at the middle of the blades

3 strands

In the photographed sample, the cut end appeared relatively compact, with the fibers remaining closely grouped.

Close-up of 3-strand embroidery floss cut with thread snips at the middle of the blades

6 strands

In the photographed sample, the cut end appeared relatively square and tidy, with the individual strands remaining closely grouped.

Close-up of 6-strand embroidery floss cut with thread snips at the middle of the blades

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WHAT WE NOTICED

With the conventional embroidery scissors, the single strand produced a noticeable sense of resistance during the cut. With three strands, the cutting sensation remained noticeable and included slight drag. With six strands, there was slightly more resistance, and the floss felt slightly compressed before separating.

With the LeGrand Thread Snips, the single strand cut with almost no noticeable resistance; the moment of separation was barely noticeable. With three strands, there was still very little resistance. With six strands, the cutting sensation became more noticeable, but the floss separated quickly without the same dragging or compressed feel.

WHAT THIS TEST SUGGESTS

In this test, complete cutting alone did not capture the full difference between the two tools. Both cut every mid-blade sample, while differences remained in cutting feel and, in some photographed samples, the appearance of the cut ends.

LIMITS OF THIS TEST

We tested one pair of each tool with one type of embroidery floss, using 1-, 3-, and 6-strand conditions and two trials per condition. Only mid-blade cutting was evaluated.

Cutting feel was recorded as a hands-on observation rather than a measured force. Visible cut-end differences describe the photographed samples only and should not be treated as a general measurement of blade sharpness.

Tools Used in This Test

Japanese Short Thread Snips for Sewing – Oxidized White Super Steel 4"

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How Cleanly Do Thread Snips and Embroidery Scissors Cut Floss at Mid-Blade?

How Cleanly Do Thread Snips and Embroidery Scissors Cut Floss at Mid-Blade?