Doane Paper, it rocks
I'm currently using a pad of Doane Paper, and I think I've found a favorite. I whip through notebooks like crazy, and I can often be found carrying both a lined notebook and a grid notebook around the house. Doane Paper combines a grid and lines and is fantastic for notes of all kinds. I tend to plan out sewing and knitting by drawing pictures and charts, and Doane Paper's grid is small enough to sketch out in an inch-to-square or stitch-to-square ratio. It would have been perfect to have back in the days when I would sketch out website layouts on a regular basis.
The paper is a nice thickness and takes the ink from my favorite pen (Uni-Ball Vision Exact, for those who are curious) smoothly. The pad has a perforated top that allows you to pull out a page cleanly. The only thing that could make the pad better would be a spiral bound top, though I expect that would make it more difficult to have manufactured. As it is I know I'll be ordering more once I've (sadly) reached the last page.
knitting - trying to understand the neck hole shaping
Doane Paper is $8.95 for a 3-pack, and shipping is free if you order three packs or more. For a paper snob like me it's a decent price and having a stack of clean, new notebooks around is something I find myself feeling romantic about. They take Paypal, it couldn't be easier.
Scrabble scores
The Doane Paper grid is also available as a free download to print out on 8.25" x 11" or A4 paper. How nice is is that?
You can read more about the idea, read their blog and even buy fan-boy Doane Paper stuff at the site.
Moving the ribby cardi neck hole shaping down a bit
adjusting the fronts of the Central Park Hoodie to make one a little differently
Wow. I would have done anything for that stuff in high school math. I'll keep it in mind for my son now.
Comment by Mrs. Mordecai — February 22, 2008 @ 9:38 am
Your post is an excellent visual reminder as to why I don't knit. MY paper would feature a bunch of scribbling, that I could never decipher after writing. :D
But, like Mrs. Mordecai, my son would adore this paper. Thanks for the tip.
Comment by Wende — February 22, 2008 @ 10:25 am
How come noone ever thought of something so simple & ingenious before? I must have a Doane Pad of my own.
Comment by Gwen — February 22, 2008 @ 10:29 am
Well, I think I am in LOVE. I used Moleskin now for everything work related (notes, voice mail, ideas), but I love this grid/lined mesh. I might have to try - the price is certainly right. Here's my must-have pen. [edited by Megan to shorten a link]
Comment by BethanyWD — February 22, 2008 @ 10:31 am
Best. Paper. Ever. That's really quite awesome...off to their site now to check it out!
Comment by Karen — February 22, 2008 @ 10:51 am
Awesome! I sent an email asking them when/if Spiral is available - important for me.
I also asked them how stiff the backer board on the notebook was (can you write on the paper in mid-air or does it need to be on a surface) and if they customize the covers on big orders.
We'll see what they respond with!
Comment by Amy in Seattle — February 22, 2008 @ 11:22 am
Okay you have officially rocked my world with the Doane paper. Thanks!
Comment by MadCarlotta — February 22, 2008 @ 11:24 am
That paper is amazing, and would be perfect for my japanese class. Sadly they don't ship overseas yet so I'll just have to long for it a while longer.
Comment by Joleo — February 22, 2008 @ 11:30 am
Best idea ever! I just ordered a 3 pack.
Comment by whitney — February 22, 2008 @ 11:39 am
amazing!! as a crafter and a science teacher I can think of 1,000's of uses. thanks!
Comment by steph — February 23, 2008 @ 8:43 am
You know, if you REALLY wanted you, you could get those spiral bound at an office supply store or Kinko's or something....
Comment by Emy — February 23, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
Sold! I ordered a 3-pack last night. I work in an online advertising department, so I use grid paper a lot for sketching out specs and working out coding issues.
Comment by Kimberly — February 25, 2008 @ 11:33 am
regular square graph paper isn't the greatest for knitting. It's better than nothing, but a knit stitch is generally shorter than it is wide, so what you graph on the paper isn't how it comes off your needles. I think you can buy knitter graph paper or even find places on the internet to print your own for free.
Comment by RoseCampion — February 25, 2008 @ 1:48 pm
Rose - Thanks, I do take this into account when I'm sketching. The grid makes sense to me just fine when I keep this in mind.
Comment by megan — February 25, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
The Doane people responded to my e-mail question and let me know that they plan to add 5x7 pads to their products around May. Woo-hoo!
Comment by Jen — February 26, 2008 @ 7:36 am
I tell you what, in a digital world I still heart paper. This may replace the Rhodia pads that I've been running through like water. Mmmm.
Comment by Kelly — February 26, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
Seriously? Are you my twin? I love graph paper and my favorite pen is the Uni-ball Vision Exact... hard to find in stores, absolutely worth the shipping costs. I'm buying some of this paper stat.
Comment by hakeber — February 28, 2008 @ 12:49 pm
[...] Have you heard of doane paper? I first heard about it through notmartha - and today I started doodling on my new favorite paper. Print some out for yourself - or purchase a pad of paper. Whatever you do, make creating a habit. (a theme derived from The Sound of Paper - a book I am thoroughly enjoying…) Links [...]
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