Stationery

Stationery as a kit, and what ours is made from

Stationery is the name for the tools you reach for when a thought, a list or a sum needs to go on paper. We find it works best as a small kit rather than a single item: something to write on, something to write with and something to put mistakes right, kept together where you will use it.

Materials differ from piece to piece across our range. Some pieces are made of plastic and some of paper, and you will also find metal, wood and rubber among them. Paper and wood are pleasant to hold and suit something kept on a desk, while plastic and metal tend to cope better with the knocks of a bag.

Finding a notebook to suit the job

Start with where the notebook will live. Notebook sizes generally follow the A series: A4 is the familiar full sheet, A5 is half of it and A6 half again. A5 suits a desk or a school bag, A6 slips into a coat pocket or a handbag for lists and passing ideas, and A4 gives room for diagrams and lesson notes.

Then think about the pages. Ruled lines help with handwriting, plain pages suit drawing, grid pages keep sums in their columns and dotted pages give a light guide for planners and journals. A hardback gives a firm surface when there is no table to lean on, while a softback is lighter and bends to fit a bag. For style, a plain cover suits a desk at work, and a playful design is more fun to give.

How pens, pencils and erasers do their work

The core of a pencil is graphite, and its grade tells you how it writes. HB sits in the middle and suits schoolwork; B grades are softer and darker, good for sketching and shading, while H grades are harder and lighter and hold a fine point. Ballpoint ink is thick and oil-based, so it dries quickly and rarely smudges, which left-handed writers often prefer. Gel ink flows more smoothly and gives a bolder line, but needs a moment to dry.

An eraser works by friction: as it rubs, it grips the graphite and carries it away in crumbs, which is why an ordinary eraser lifts pencil but does little against ink. In British English it is often simply called a rubber. A soft eraser is gentler on thin pages, and a clean one works far better than a grubby one, which can smear the marks it is meant to lift.

Getting school stationery ready for term

The weeks before term starts are when pencil cases get refilled, and some of our pieces are meant for exactly that. Good school stationery has to survive a crowded bag, so a hardback notebook and a sturdy pencil case tend to outlast flimsier ones, while a design the child has chosen is more likely to be looked after.

Put names on things before the first day. A strip of tape around a pen and a name inside a notebook cover help lost items find their way home, because pens and erasers have a habit of wandering. A second kit kept at home saves a nightly hunt through the school bag, and one notebook per subject keeps revision notes in order.

Cute stationery to give as a present

Stationery is one of the easiest presents to tuck into a stocking: it is light, it wraps neatly and it gets used long after the wrapping is cleared away. Plenty of our pieces have Christmas in mind, so a notebook, a pen or two and an eraser make a stocking that feels thought through. Some suit a party too, and a pencil and an eraser in a party bag will still be in use when the sweets are long gone.

If cute stationery is what you are after, look out for a few dog designs and a few pieces made for colouring in. Some pieces suit teenagers, and you will also find a few gifts for him and for her. A few more would make a thoughtful present for a teacher.

Looking after pens, pencils and notebooks

Put caps back on as soon as you finish, because an uncapped gel pen or fibre tip dries out quickly, and keep pens away from radiators and sunny windowsills, where heat can make ink leak. Sharpen pencils gently with a keen blade, and empty the shavings before the sharpener jams.

A notebook lasts longest when kept dry, lying in a drawer or standing upright on a shelf like a book, as damp makes pages ripple and a crammed bag bends covers. Anything in plastic or metal can be wiped with a slightly damp cloth and dried straight away; wood prefers a dry cloth. A grubby or hardened eraser works better again after a rub on scrap paper, and a box out of the sun helps it stay soft.