Posts filed under Midori

Midori Foldable Memo Notes Review - Stretchy Goat!

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

In my endless celebration of making notes on small papers, I am always delighted to find some fun small papers. Midori often has my back when it comes to small papers--or any papers, for that matter.

I will begin by admitting that I am easily amused, but the thought of writing a quick note on the belly of a cute creature--especially a note that folds away under the paws of said creature--brings me immense delight.

The Midori Foldable Memo Notes look like small sticky notes, but they are not sticky, and they unfold to double in length. They can then be re-folded to tuck your note away, and the arms of the illustration hold the fold in place. I have the goat design here, which comes with white and black goats, and there is also a set for raccoons (both yellow and orange), cats (calico and white, with yarn), and dogs (brown and yellow). They are all done in a simplified drawing style and all have adorable expressions on their faces. They cheer me up every time I look at them. You could write terrible news on one of these and I'd probably still smile.

Their practical application is obvious--write lots of fun notes and distribute them like confetti through the world. The folded construction makes the perfect gift tag. Pass the cutest notes in class. Or, their long length makes them perfect for lists.

On top of their cleverness and cuteness, these are Midori, so that paper is also good. Even writing with a heavily saturated rollerball ink, there was no bleed-through or feathering. You could see ghosting on the back of the paper, but why would you write on the back of this paper when the front is so cute?

The Foldable Stretchy Memo Notes sell for $6.50 for a pack of 18 notes. That's certainly more expensive than a standard memo pad, but a standard memo pad doesn't have a wee wittle face and paws.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on September 11, 2025 by Sarah Read and filed under Midori, Stationery.

Midori Knitted Book Band Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

The Midori Knitted Book Band takes the concept of a notebook cozy to the next level. The books have never been cozier! It looks cute and serves several functions, an achievement I can only aspire to on my best days.

The stretchy sleeve is made from a soft knitted elastic fabric that slides over your notebook like a leg warmer. Both the top and bottom edge are cuffed, creating a capped pocket where you can stash pens, stickers, or even more notebooks. Because the sleeve spans the width of the notebook, and because the fabric is so stretchy, you can fit all kinds of tools in the pocket. On one side, a pen sleeve pocket is stitched into the fabric. Which did not stop me from putting more pens into the rest of the space as well.

The sleeve also serves to hold the notebook shut with the contents safely inside. It's a beefed-up version of the elastic closure bands so many notebooks use, but with much added security. It would be perfect for keeping a writing kit assembled for travel, where the notebook and its pens and accessories are all secure in its cute little sleeping bag.

On the downside, it's secure enough that it's not very convenient to get into the notebook quickly. I wouldn't recommend it for a planner or commonplace book, where you might want to quickly look something up or jot something down. It's much better suited to a project notebook where you'd settle in, unpack your cute little bundle, and work for a while before packing it all back up again. I can see it working well for a reading or gardening journal, or something similar. For me, I've found that adding barriers to using my notebooks often results in me not using the notebook, so it may not be the right tool for me.

The stretchy band is designed to fit A6 to B6 notebooks. I was able to get mine onto an A5 notebook, too, though this would likely permanently stretch out the fabric and it does limit the amount of items that can fit into the pocket when it's at its maximum expansion.

The Midori Knitted Book Band comes in a variety of colors, each with a different ribbed pattern to the fabric, and costs $36.50. I do think that's a little expensive for what you get. It's a very simple design made with fairly basic materials. But it is very cute, and it carries the hallowed Midori brand name, which explains some of the extra cost. In any case, it's still an accessible price and a versatile product.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Sarah Read and filed under Midori, Notebooks, Accessories Review.

Midori MD Cotton Notebook Review

When you are talking about paper for pens - especially fountain pens - the word “cotton” isn’t exactly the descriptor I’m looking for. Midori has changed my thought process, though, as their Midori MD Cotton paper defies my preconceived notions of the name.

Midori MD Cotton uses 20% cotton pulp in its paper formulation, designed to give the page a softer feel with any writing instrument. While yes, the Cotton page may provide a slightly softer writing surface compared to standard MD paper, that’s not the reason you should consider buying it. You should consider buying it because it performs well with most inks, including fountain pen inks.

I’ve been a long-time user of Midori’s standard notebooks. In fact, they are some of my favorites, and I’d rank them as highly as any other paper product in my rotation. How does the classic MD compare to MD Cotton? They each have their pros and cons.

For starters, MD Cotton paper has a whiter page. It’s not stark white, like Clairefontaine Triomphe, but compared to Standard MD there is a clear difference. I think that is the Standard MD’s biggest drawback. I don’t mind it, but it is a non-starter for some. But be careful, this exact Midori MD A5 Square Cotton Paper Pad has a whiter page than the Thick version, which I am not reviewing today. (Midori’s entire Cotton lineup is confusingly sized and formatted, so pay close attention.)

*Lines are finer on the Standard MD (left,) although it may be tough to see in the image above.*

With fountain pen nibs and inks, my lines are wider on Cotton than Standard. This is a result of the softness of the Cotton page, which is by design. It’s not as soft or cushioned as something like Cosmo Air Light, and I didn’t notice it much when writing. But when I compared Cotton side by side to Standard, the difference was clear - especially for someone like myself who likes fine lines.

*Ink is a bit more visible through the back of the Cotton (left.)*

Both papers handle feathering and bleeding well, as in there is almost none. The Schmidt Rollerball ink did bleed through the back of Cotton where I filled in the square, but wasn’t bad otherwise. Cotton does have more ghosting, so Standard is a better choice for writing on both sides of the page.

Cotton does show ink color better given the whiter background, but it’s not the runaway I would have expected. I still see good color variation in the dual-shading Sailor Manyo Fuji ink I swabbed on both.

*Color is a bit more saturated on Cotton (right,) but both pages have a good range of shades.*

The only outlier in comparison was with pencil graphite. My Blackwing Extra Firm is completely fine on the Standard MD page, but on Cotton it is more like “oh heck yes.” The slight texture of the Cotton page doesn’t affect fountain pen nibs negatively, but is a huge bonus to pencils.

That Midori MD Cotton is as good with fountain pens and inks as it is with pencils says a lot. If I had to pick only one of these papers for personal use I’m sticking with the Standard MD, but for the more inky inclined, I think Cotton makes a great choice. I’m certainly going to keep using it for doodles and drawings, if not writing.

The A5 Square Cotton Paper Pad is $16.00 for 176 pages, which is priced well for a premium paper product like this. And if you need a larger - or weirder - format (what is F-size, anyway?) then Midori is sure to have you covered.

(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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