FAQ
Everything below is what we would tell you if you asked in person. If something is missing, write to hello@slow-lines.com — we will answer, and probably add it here.
Sizes and fit
Which size do I need?
Two sizes, A5 and A6. Pick the one that matches the notebook you already use — an A5 book is 148 by 210 mm, an A6 book is 105 by 148 mm.
If you write at length or work at a desk, A5. If the notebook lives in a coat pocket or a small bag, A6.
What are the cover's actual measurements?
A5 standard — 220 mm tall, 350 mm wide open, closing to about 170 mm.
A5 trifold — 220 mm tall, 450 mm wide open, closing to about 170 mm.
A6 standard — 158 mm tall, 250 mm wide open, closing to about 120 mm.
A6 trifold — 158 mm tall, 320 mm wide open, closing to about 120 mm.
About 5 mm goes into the fold itself, which is why the closed width is a little less than half the open one.
Why is the trifold's closed width approximate?
A trifold wraps around the block rather than gripping a spine, so it closes a little wider or narrower depending on how many notebooks are inside and how tightly it is wrapped. Treat that number as a guide rather than a fixed measurement.
My notebook is not a standard size.
Then we cut for it. Everything here is made after the order comes in, so a non-standard size is the same work with different numbers.
Send the height, width and thickness in millimetres, measured closed, and how many notebooks you want to carry, on the custom size request page.
Standard or trifold
What is the difference?
A standard cover holds a notebook by its spine. A trifold wraps the whole block — front, spine and back — and closes over the edge. That extra panel is what makes room for more than one book.
Can I carry several notebooks in one cover?
Yes. Inside a trifold each block sits on its own elastic, and you can reorder them so the one you use most opens fastest.
If your setup needs more, we cut extra holes and add extra elastics at the cutting stage rather than afterwards — ask on the custom size request page. There is more about it in this article.
The leather
What leathers do you use?
Full-grain Italian vegetable-tanned leather, in five families.
Pueblo, from Badalassi Carlo — a brushed matte surface, slightly rough to the touch, that smooths and darkens fastest of the five.
Buttero, from Conceria Walpier — smooth, firm and clean, with strong colour. Holds its shape and takes on a quiet shine.
Dollaro, from Conceria Walpier — a fine pebbled grain that hides the small scuffs a bag hands out.
Freedom, from Conceria Walpier — a pull-up leather that lightens at every fold and darkens again with handling.
Ghost Wax, from Conceria Walpier — a layer of pale wax over colour, rubbing away where you hold it.
Names such as Whisky, Cognac or Camel Tan are colours within these leathers, not leathers of their own. You can see them all on the leathers page.
How thick is it?
Most covers are cut from leather around 2.2 to 2.4 mm. That gives a firm base: the cover holds its shape and does not go slack after a season in a bag.
Pueblo is thinner, about 2.0 to 2.2 mm, and that is enough. We do not make 3 mm covers — at that thickness the object stops being easy to carry and gains nothing in protection.
Will the colour change?
Yes, and that is the point. Vegetable-tanned leather keeps reacting to light and handling instead of sitting behind a finish.
One thing worth knowing: a cover left alone for a year still changes colour. It can tan on one side and stay as it was on the other, depending on where the light fell. Two covers bought the same day end up different.
Personalisation
Can I have something stamped on it?
Yes, and it is free. Up to ten characters — initials, a name, a short word or a date — pressed into the leather in gold or silver foil. You can also choose a clean finish with no mark at all.
The impression is permanent and grows more visible as the leather around it darkens.
Can I choose the elastic colour?
Yes, from fourteen colours. Every cover comes with one elastic fitted and a spare in the box, because the elastic is the part that eventually wears out while the leather is still fine.
Making and shipping
How long until it ships?
Five to seven business days. Nothing is made in advance, so that time is the making, not the picking of a box off a shelf. Custom sizes take the same five to seven days.
What does shipping cost?
Lithuania — 5.99 €, arriving in 1 to 3 business days.
Europe — 9 €, tracked, 5 to 10 business days.
United Kingdom — 9 €, tracked, 7 to 14 business days.
Rest of the world — 11 €, tracked, 10 to 21 business days.
Shipping is free on orders over 120 € outside Lithuania.
Where do you ship from, and will I get tracking?
Everything ships from Vilnius, Lithuania. A tracking number goes out by email when the parcel does.
Delivery times are estimates — customs and local post can add to them.
Can I get it by a specific date?
Write to us before ordering and we will tell you honestly whether it is possible. We would rather say no than miss the date.
Returns
What if it is not right?
Thirty days from delivery to ask for a return, as long as the cover is unused and comes back in its original condition and packaging, with proof of purchase.
Write to hello@slow-lines.com before sending anything back. Full terms are on the delivery and returns page.
Are custom orders returnable?
No. Covers made to a non-standard size, and covers with the ten-character embossment, are final sale — they were made for one person and cannot go to anyone else.
Please check your measurements and your spelling before ordering.
Looking after it
What do I need to do?
Very little. Vegetable-tanned leather is meant to be used rather than protected.
Let it get wet, then let it dry. Blot with a soft cloth and leave it to dry on its own, away from radiators and direct sun.
Condition it once in a while. A small amount of natural conditioner or beeswax balm every few months, no more.
Keep it out of long sun. Leather tans like skin, and unevenly if only one side is lit.
Do not store it in plastic. A bag traps moisture. A shelf is better.
It already has a mark on it.
Most surface marks blend in within weeks. Scratches and shifting colour are the leather doing what it does, not a fault — a cover that looks new after a year has not been used.
Still stuck? Write to hello@slow-lines.com. A person answers, and it is usually the person who made the cover.