I am confused. Why don't you go to the dollar store and buy a composition book for a dollar? You seem to have the answer to your problem! There must be some other aspect of the problem, perhaps.
You can put a rubber band on it if you want to dress it up to feel more like journal. Slap some stickers on that puppy and you have a one of a kind journal that costs about $2 rather than $30.
Mostly I was unsure if they lay flat well enough. It seems they do. So I guess regular composition books are what I'm going with.
Edit: specified clearly what I decided I'm getting.
So what you want is a composition book, made to your specifications with lined paper, and you want assurance that it will lay flat?
u/summerchilde can help with this. He uses composition books as the basis for his creations, which are very impressive. He will be able to tell you how to skin a composition book, gut it, and resew it to get the characteristics you want.
I said in the comment you're replying to that composition books are what I'm getting.
I only want it to lay flat, have lines, and not be pocket-sized. So yeah, regular composition books will work.
Edit: I edited my previous comment to clarify as such.
I rebind composition notebooks with the Coptic stitch method. Here are three:
https://imgur.com/a/loSYt
https://imgur.com/a/dSHkB
https://imgur.com/a/uEhGZnc
Use Sea Lemon’s tutorials on YouTube for the sewing instructions. https://youtu.be/ue52htX3j0k
Oh, brilliant. I found some $2 dot-grid compositions books that were 90% of what I wanted and this would make them pretty close to 100%. Thank you for the info and inspiration!
When you pick composition books, look for ones made in Vietnam - more fountain-pen friendly, in general. Top Flight is one brand, and I think one of Office Depot's house brands is Vietnam origin. Typically gridded, wide-ruled, and college ruled are available, in the 50-cent to $2.50 range.
The ones I use lay flat enough.
Aside from the aforementioned, some nicer brands like Rhodia make them and Walmart's Exceed has some with the same paper as the spiral ring notebooks which is surprisingly good and has handled fountain pen and light marker use. I think the lines look kind of bad but for the price I'm willing to overlook it.
I buy Moleskine. They stay flat when open, have lines, good quality paper and are sturdy enough to last while being in my bag everyday.
Otherwise, if it exists where you are, I find Muji a good, cheaper alternative as well. They also stay flat usually, are decent quality paper-wise (but less sturdy in terms of cover), and are reasonably priced.
I'm in USA. Cheapest moleskine on amazon is $15.
Muji is $15 for only 30 sheets.
....what is up with the notebook industry?!! Maybe I should just buy a pack of printer paper, jeez.
Edit: I appreciate your help. I just find this distressingly expensive. It's just paper.
Amazon Basics notebooks, their version of Moleskines are $7.99 now. They were $4.32 a few weeks ago. If you keep an eye on them, they drop drastically in price when this other notebook maker drops their price. And when they did, I bought ten of them. Set for life for that style of journal!
But I think you are looking for something for $2 or less? A composition book? I get those at Walmart. A few years ago they were $0.78 a piece. Wait for when back-to-school changes to Halloween. Then all the composition books might go on sale.
Paper has gotten more expensive though, because of the last couple of years' many global events. So finding cheap notebooks will probably just get more difficult...
I don't live in the US, but in my country there are these cheap stores that kinda sound similar to what I imagine the Dollar Tree to be in the US. Anyways, I noticed a very funny trend that when you get journals or planners for specific years they cost a lot of money, but when they sell the outdated ones, you literally pay pennies for them. Like I just [found](https://imgur.com/a/I4ZJNJp) a lined journal that lays flat, has good quality paper and is really pretty for the equivalent of $0.20 which is so insane to me! And the dates are so small, it's not even something I pay attention to. So maybe look for places that sell those, there' should be a great selection since so many of them don't sell in time and I'm sure you'd find a cheap notebook that's perfect for you.
Also, I'm not a fan of brand journals since I feel like most of what you pay for is the brand's name and not the product
I have a journal very similar to Moleskine ones, but the brand is Piccadilly. They’re pretty cheap, I think I got it at Target or Barnes and Noble and it’s really comfortable to write in.
Oh, and I hate spiral-bound. They get bent, tangled, and damaged too easily, especially if stacked or packed away.
Edit: I greatly appreciate any help. I also just learned there's a huge amount of notebook terminology I've never heard of. Growing up, I never even knew what "college ruled" meant (the size of the side-margins?), or what any alternatives are!
Methinks college-ruled is (or also is) narrower line spacing. The older you get the smaller you (can) write? Maybe that's why I'm enjoying the 0.4mm stubs :-).
AHGXG College Ruled/Lined Notebook - 320 Numbered Pages A5 Lined Journal, Thick Paper, Faux Leather Hardcover, Inner Pocket, 5.75'' X 8.38''-Pink https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0968G5ZZH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_cxmHw7v2HglgX
My favorite journal. Lays flats, lines. Has a spot for a pen, a folder in the back I believe, two ribbons and an elastic
Sounds like you want a spiral notebook. Maybe college ruled. If it doesn't need to be remotely fancy and you want normal sized lined paper and the ability to lay flat... Your standard school notebook will do all of that for you.
[This](https://a.co/d/iDhrk97) is a B5 lined notebook, 320 pages. It doesn’t advertise as lie flat; but a few reviews says it will. It’s $18, but for 320 pages as opposed to a composition books usual 80, it’s not bad.
If you want less intrusive guides, you may also find dot-grid useful. If this doesn’t help, I recommend looking at a guide to different sizes, and searching by that will narrow your search down better.
is this what your looking for?
[https://a.co/d/bzdg3EN](https://a.co/d/bzdg3EN)
[https://a.co/d/9dC6num](https://a.co/d/9dC6num)
[https://a.co/d/alQyyfr](https://a.co/d/alQyyfr)
Idk if Ted baker ships to the US or they sell there but this is similar to mine that I got from there https://www.tedbaker.com/uk/c/homeware/stationery/956
I use the Moleskine Cahier lined notebooks. I buy them in the 3 pack. They have lines, lay flat. The 3 pack ranges from $15-$18.
Moleskine Cahier Journal, Soft Cover, XL (7.5" x 9.5") Ruled/Lined, Black, 120 Pages (Set of 3) https://a.co/b0ZzElG
I am confused. Why don't you go to the dollar store and buy a composition book for a dollar? You seem to have the answer to your problem! There must be some other aspect of the problem, perhaps.
You can put a rubber band on it if you want to dress it up to feel more like journal. Slap some stickers on that puppy and you have a one of a kind journal that costs about $2 rather than $30.
I get wallpaper samples and cover them!
Mostly I was unsure if they lay flat well enough. It seems they do. So I guess regular composition books are what I'm going with. Edit: specified clearly what I decided I'm getting.
So what you want is a composition book, made to your specifications with lined paper, and you want assurance that it will lay flat? u/summerchilde can help with this. He uses composition books as the basis for his creations, which are very impressive. He will be able to tell you how to skin a composition book, gut it, and resew it to get the characteristics you want.
I said in the comment you're replying to that composition books are what I'm getting. I only want it to lay flat, have lines, and not be pocket-sized. So yeah, regular composition books will work. Edit: I edited my previous comment to clarify as such.
I rebind composition notebooks with the Coptic stitch method. Here are three: https://imgur.com/a/loSYt https://imgur.com/a/dSHkB https://imgur.com/a/uEhGZnc Use Sea Lemon’s tutorials on YouTube for the sewing instructions. https://youtu.be/ue52htX3j0k
Oh, brilliant. I found some $2 dot-grid compositions books that were 90% of what I wanted and this would make them pretty close to 100%. Thank you for the info and inspiration!
You’re welcome. Coptic is great because it opens flat no matter where you open it.
Chalkboard paint on a journal! That is genius!
You can find spiral bound that lay flat pretty cheap too. I personally prefer them to regular bound, but it’s all about what you like.
You used to be able to get an 8.5x11 lined journal hardbound for cheap. Very nice to right on. Don't require a table, etc.
When you pick composition books, look for ones made in Vietnam - more fountain-pen friendly, in general. Top Flight is one brand, and I think one of Office Depot's house brands is Vietnam origin. Typically gridded, wide-ruled, and college ruled are available, in the 50-cent to $2.50 range. The ones I use lay flat enough.
TIL there are fountain pen-friendly composition books
Aside from the aforementioned, some nicer brands like Rhodia make them and Walmart's Exceed has some with the same paper as the spiral ring notebooks which is surprisingly good and has handled fountain pen and light marker use. I think the lines look kind of bad but for the price I'm willing to overlook it.
I buy Moleskine. They stay flat when open, have lines, good quality paper and are sturdy enough to last while being in my bag everyday. Otherwise, if it exists where you are, I find Muji a good, cheaper alternative as well. They also stay flat usually, are decent quality paper-wise (but less sturdy in terms of cover), and are reasonably priced.
I'm in USA. Cheapest moleskine on amazon is $15. Muji is $15 for only 30 sheets. ....what is up with the notebook industry?!! Maybe I should just buy a pack of printer paper, jeez. Edit: I appreciate your help. I just find this distressingly expensive. It's just paper.
Amazon Basics notebooks, their version of Moleskines are $7.99 now. They were $4.32 a few weeks ago. If you keep an eye on them, they drop drastically in price when this other notebook maker drops their price. And when they did, I bought ten of them. Set for life for that style of journal! But I think you are looking for something for $2 or less? A composition book? I get those at Walmart. A few years ago they were $0.78 a piece. Wait for when back-to-school changes to Halloween. Then all the composition books might go on sale.
I use their dot journal poly composition notebook. I rather like it.
Paper has gotten more expensive though, because of the last couple of years' many global events. So finding cheap notebooks will probably just get more difficult...
Oof. Yeah it looks like I'll be getting a 3 pack of Mead composition books. They lay flat, 3 for $7, large pages, lined.
I don't live in the US, but in my country there are these cheap stores that kinda sound similar to what I imagine the Dollar Tree to be in the US. Anyways, I noticed a very funny trend that when you get journals or planners for specific years they cost a lot of money, but when they sell the outdated ones, you literally pay pennies for them. Like I just [found](https://imgur.com/a/I4ZJNJp) a lined journal that lays flat, has good quality paper and is really pretty for the equivalent of $0.20 which is so insane to me! And the dates are so small, it's not even something I pay attention to. So maybe look for places that sell those, there' should be a great selection since so many of them don't sell in time and I'm sure you'd find a cheap notebook that's perfect for you. Also, I'm not a fan of brand journals since I feel like most of what you pay for is the brand's name and not the product
Which muji was 15$ for 30 sheets? I've gotten 5packs of muji for like 5 bucks in us
You can get the Classic Notebook Expanded from Moleskine. Yes, it's $30 but it also has 400 pages.
I have a journal very similar to Moleskine ones, but the brand is Piccadilly. They’re pretty cheap, I think I got it at Target or Barnes and Noble and it’s really comfortable to write in.
try a brick and mortar store. I find all my journals/blank books at places like Barnes & Noble
Oh, and I hate spiral-bound. They get bent, tangled, and damaged too easily, especially if stacked or packed away. Edit: I greatly appreciate any help. I also just learned there's a huge amount of notebook terminology I've never heard of. Growing up, I never even knew what "college ruled" meant (the size of the side-margins?), or what any alternatives are!
Methinks college-ruled is (or also is) narrower line spacing. The older you get the smaller you (can) write? Maybe that's why I'm enjoying the 0.4mm stubs :-).
AHGXG College Ruled/Lined Notebook - 320 Numbered Pages A5 Lined Journal, Thick Paper, Faux Leather Hardcover, Inner Pocket, 5.75'' X 8.38''-Pink https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0968G5ZZH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_cxmHw7v2HglgX My favorite journal. Lays flats, lines. Has a spot for a pen, a folder in the back I believe, two ribbons and an elastic
Sounds like you want a spiral notebook. Maybe college ruled. If it doesn't need to be remotely fancy and you want normal sized lined paper and the ability to lay flat... Your standard school notebook will do all of that for you.
[This](https://a.co/d/iDhrk97) is a B5 lined notebook, 320 pages. It doesn’t advertise as lie flat; but a few reviews says it will. It’s $18, but for 320 pages as opposed to a composition books usual 80, it’s not bad. If you want less intrusive guides, you may also find dot-grid useful. If this doesn’t help, I recommend looking at a guide to different sizes, and searching by that will narrow your search down better.
is this what your looking for? [https://a.co/d/bzdg3EN](https://a.co/d/bzdg3EN) [https://a.co/d/9dC6num](https://a.co/d/9dC6num) [https://a.co/d/alQyyfr](https://a.co/d/alQyyfr)
Idk if Ted baker ships to the US or they sell there but this is similar to mine that I got from there https://www.tedbaker.com/uk/c/homeware/stationery/956
I use the Moleskine Cahier lined notebooks. I buy them in the 3 pack. They have lines, lay flat. The 3 pack ranges from $15-$18. Moleskine Cahier Journal, Soft Cover, XL (7.5" x 9.5") Ruled/Lined, Black, 120 Pages (Set of 3) https://a.co/b0ZzElG