Left Handed

LEFT HAND User AWARENESS!

Through the many years of being involved in the World of Scissors I am very aware of the problem caused to people who are Left Handed. At retail level Left Handed users are purchasing scissors sold as Left Handed, when in fact it is more often than not a Left Handed handle only with right-handed blades, what we call “half Left Handed”, leaving the user with an inferior design of scissor.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Awareness of using a true Left Handed scissor is a most important first step.

Know when cutting, your eye must be focused on the Right Hand side of the scissor as you look down onto the blades. If the actual cutting edge falls on the Left side of the blades when cutting you would have been sold a “half Left Hand” Scissor.  The handle must be shaped for the Left thumb having being shaped to fit the thumb comfortably in the eye of the handle. If this is not so, with little use the discomfort to the Left Hand will interfere with the pleasure gained each time we challenge our artistic skills.

True Left Hand Scissor

Note: shape of handle for the Left Hand and the true positioning of the blades

There is on the market a style of scissor designed to have 2 equal eyes, though the equal eyes will make it easier for holding instead of a right-handed scissor your eye will still fall on the wrong side of the cutting edge as these scissors are designed with full right handed blades.

PROBLEMS CAUSED When Using a RIGHT-HANDED SCISSOR in the LEFT HAND

I have seen professional pattern makers within the clothing industry expressing severe discomfort when cutting. What I found was when a Left Handed member of staff went on vacation, within the first few days of not using their Right-handed scissor, they found a relief of pain and discomfort. This problem does not only affect the hand, it will under continuous strain affect the whole left arm and neck. On returning to work the problem very quickly returns.

With this awareness I noticed the posture of one of the girls when using her Right-handed scissor in the Left Hand. To see the line of cut I noticed she was leaning her head to the left, toward the left shoulder, I commented at the time; her whole stance (posture) was out and she must centre her head aligning it to the rest of her body while cutting. When she did this she found she could not follow the line of cut and actually rolled the scissor toward its Right side to enable her to follow the line. I demonstrated a Left Hand pair of scissors asking her to cut with them, instantly the girl found relief. Discussing further with her she did not only suffer the pain down her left arm and neck but was also suffering with the thumb joint of the Left Hand which had developed a callous due to the continuous rubbing of the incorrect shape of the handle on the Left Hand. This was very easily corrected once she became aware of the cause of her discomforts. She immediately purchased a “Full Left Hand Scissor” thanking me for many months after discovering the need to be using the correct tools for her Trade.

This is a story I tell to all our Left Handed customers saving many people from making the same mistake.

I recommend to young parents who have discovered their child is having difficulty cutting at school to encourage the child to use a Left Hand scissor. In many cases the problem resolves itself. If this is not the problem the child will need professional medical advice.

SHARPENING of LEFT HAND SCISSORS

Left Hand scissors contrary to people’s belief can be resharpened. I advice when this service is required not to allow this task to be performed by a non-professional. Never hand your Left Hand scissor to just anyone that has a grinding machine, always leave with a professional person as there needs to be a good understanding of the technicalities of the operation of Left Hand scissors. Left Hand scissors should always be tried by the user at the time of collection to ensure there is no further adjustment required: occasionally though your Left Hand scissor is sharpened you may find it does not cut over the whole blade this is at which point a professional will know what to do.