I know what you mean. I will be interested in the replies you get. I do not like the curved embroidery scissors.

My absolute favorite is the Havel 4" Double Curved Lace and Applique scissors. I love the curve so you can get in close to the stitch without having to get you hand is a awkward position. The rounded point is harder to cut something you don't want to cut - yep, with other scissors I've done all kinds of damage accidentally. :-( I've given you the link to the company's site, but Amazon, JoAnn's and quilt shops carry them. I bought mine at a Martha Pullen class years ago.

Gingher 4 inch with a little curve at the end

I was a Gingher girl until I found Kai scissors...I have numerous pairs...and they are all wicked sharp....You would probably have to order them...not sure how the postage would work for you....it's free for the USA...

https://kaiscissors.com/

I use fingernail scissors by Revlon and improve their edges with an emery board (fingernail file of sandpaper).

I love my Florianni scissor set.If I could just get enough confidence to do more projects I am sure I would love them even more! It is a 4 piece set.

I have a number of scissors that look like the picture but all a bit different as well. The best ones I got were from a sewing machine place. I saw what the lady was using and asked if I could have a feel of them. The holes were just perfect for the thumb and finger. They actually sold them there in the shop. So that might be an option for you when you are in the city.

Hi Sarah, these are my all time favourite for cutting threads and trimming Applique! They are a brand called Canary, I buy the ones with the curved ends and as I have very large hands I find the large holes in the handles ideal. You can get plain ones too (not curved I mean).
Good luck with finding something that suits you in J'berg. Love Chris

P.S. My shears are Kai, like Kim (dragonflyer) LOVE THEM (Woe betide anyone who touches them!!!!!!!)

Hi Sarah, seeing you are going to Joburg, go into an Elna or Bernina shop, they sometimes have nice pointy pairs, other to that I also use nail scissors, which I purchase in a Chemist. Let us know how it goes. Hugs from Maureen

My son wrapped my small scissors with flexible tape and it worked for a while. The tape frays and is not quite in the right spot, but I use them all the time. The pic you have is exactly what I would recommend.

I too used the Kai scissors as they have that serrated edge that catches the thread. But, nothing is perfect for everything. I find that since they are so short, if I'm trying to cut something while it is in the hoop and on the machine, they are too short to get in there to trim a thread. They I have to use the ones in the photo.

I prefer these tweezers scissors

In spite of all the expensive embroidery scissors, I have had the best luck with cuticle scissors from the drug store--in the sections with nail polish,etc.

Probably like everyone else, I have tons of scissors. If the hoop is still in the machine, I have to use a pair like shown above. I just can't get my hands in there to get a good cut unless the hoop is close to me. Otherwise, I use my serrated scissors of which I have a few different brands including Kai, when I take the hoop out of the machine. I find it helps if I grab the scissors with a pair of tweezers instead of my hand before cutting.

I finally got so annoyed with this problem so I got a machine that cuts the thread automatically. It gets cut under the stitch plate so that I don't have to cut the threads at all. That is a little over-kill for such a small problem that I feel a little silly, but it does make my projects less frustrating to make.