At Porridge Papers, we believe paper is more than a surface to write on. Handmade paper is an experience.
In a world filled with mass-produced products and digital communication, there is something wonderfully tangible about holding a sheet of paper that was made by hand. You can see the fibers, feel the texture, and notice the subtle variations that make every sheet unique.
But how is our handmade paper actually made?
At Porridge Papers, the process begins with carefully selected fibers and ends with a sheet of paper that has been individually pulled, pressed, and dried in our Nebraska papermill.
From cotton linter and recycled envelope scraps to our hydraulic press and drying boxes, here's a behind-the-scenes look at how we make handmade paper at Porridge Papers.
What Is Handmade Paper?
Handmade paper is created by suspending individual fibers in water and forming them into sheets one at a time. Unlike machine-made paper, which is produced continuously on large paper machines, handmade paper is formed individually using a mould and deckle.
That individual process is what gives handmade paper much of its distinctive character. Small variations in formation, thickness, texture, and deckled edges are natural parts of the process. No two sheets are exactly alike—and that's the beauty of handmade paper.
At Porridge Papers, we've spent decades refining our own papermaking process to create handmade papers with distinctive textures, colors, weights, and characteristics for printers, designers, artists, event professionals, and paper lovers.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Fiber
Every sheet of handmade paper begins with fiber.
The type of fiber we use has a significant effect on the finished paper's texture, strength, appearance, and character. That's why we select different fibers for different collections.
Cotton Linter
We use this fiber for our 1889 Collection and Sweet Wilds Collection.
Cotton linter is the short, soft fiber left behind during the processing of cotton. It is an excellent fiber for papermaking because it produces sheets with a soft feel, beautiful formation, and impressive durability. The resulting paper has the luxurious tactile quality that makes cotton handmade paper especially well suited to Letterpress Printing, Calligraphy, Wedding Invitations, Stationery, and Fine-Art applications.
Recycled Envelope Trimmings
For our Plantable Seed Paper and Blue Collar Collection, we use a different fiber source: recycled envelope scraps.
Instead of allowing those paper scraps to become waste, we process them back into usable papermaking fiber.
It is a simple idea that is central to how we think about paper here at Porridge Papers: Everything has one more purpose.
Transforming discarded paper into something beautiful and useful is one of the most rewarding parts of our papermaking process.
Step 2: Turning Fiber Into Pulp
Once we have our raw materials, the next step in making handmade paper is turning those materials into pulp.
We use a machine called a hydrapulper.
The hydrapulper mixes the fiber with water and uses mechanical action to separate the material into individual fibers. The result is a watery suspension of fiber that we can use to form new sheets of paper.
The process may look industrial, but the goal is surprisingly simple: separate the fibers so they can come together again as a new sheet of paper.
Handmade Paper Without Chemicals
One thing that makes our process different is what we leave out.
We do not use chemicals to break down or bleach our fibers.
Our basic papermaking process relies on fiber, water, and mechanical energy. We don't need harsh chemical treatments to create the beautiful natural character of our handmade papers.
The fiber itself is the foundation of the sheet.
Step 3: Adding Color to the Fiber
If we're making colored handmade paper, this is where we add pigment.
Rather than coloring the finished sheet after it's formed, we add specially formulated pigments to the pulp before the sheets are pulled. This allows the color to become part of the fiber mixture throughout the sheet.
Developing the right color isn't simply a matter of adding pigment until it looks right. We formulate our colors to achieve the particular shades, depth, and character we want in the finished paper.
Because handmade paper is made in batches and pulled individually, subtle variations in color and formation can occur from one batch to another. We don't see those variations as imperfections.
They're part of what makes handmade paper handmade.
Step 4: Pulling Every Sheet by Hand
This is the heart of our handmade papermaking process.
When the pulp is ready, we stand at the vat and begin forming individual sheets using a mould and deckle. The mould and deckle are dipped into the vat of pulp and lifted through the water. As the water drains away, a thin layer of fibers remains on the surface of the mould. That layer of fibers will become a sheet of paper.
It sounds simple.
It isn't.
Creating a consistent sheet requires practice, timing, and a feel for the pulp. The amount of fiber in the vat, the movement of the mould, the speed at which it is lifted, and the way the sheet is formed all affect the final result.
And because every sheet is pulled by hand, subtle differences naturally occur. That's why you may see slight variations in formation, thickness, texture, or edge from one sheet to the next.
Those variations are evidence of the process.
There is a person behind every sheet of our handmade paper.
Step 5: Couching and Building the Post
Once a sheet has been formed on the mould, it is transferred to a felt or other suitable surface in a process called couching.
The newly formed sheets are stacked one on top of another, creating what papermakers call a post. At this point, the sheets are still saturated with water.
A lot of water.
So our next job is to get it out.
Step 6: Pressing the Handmade Paper
Once the sheets have been formed and stacked, we transfer the post to our hydraulic press.
The press applies substantial pressure to the stack, squeezing out as much water as possible.
Pressing does more than simply remove water. It also helps consolidate the fibers and prepares the sheets for the final drying stage. This is an important part of the handmade paper process because the more water we can remove mechanically, the more efficiently the sheets can move into the drying stage.
Step 7: Restraint Drying
After pressing, the paper is damp but beginning to look much more like the finished product.
Now it needs to dry.
At Porridge Papers, we use a technique called restraint drying.
The damp sheets are placed into our specialized drying boxes, where they are held under controlled tension while they slowly air-dry. This allows the paper to dry flat while helping us maintain the beautiful texture and character created during the sheet-forming process.
Under ideal conditions, our handmade paper can take approximately two days to fully dry.
We don't rush this part of the process.
Making handmade paper takes time, and drying is part of that process.
Step 8: The Finished Handmade Sheet
Once the paper is completely dry, the sheets are ready for their final preparation.
Some sheets retain their natural deckled edges, created during the hand-pulling process. Others are trimmed to specific dimensions depending on how the paper will be used.
And that's when the possibilities really begin.
Our handmade paper can become:
- Letterpress Wedding Invitations
- Business Cards
- Stationery
- Note Cards
- Menus
- Art Prints
- Packaging
- Promotional Materials
- Calligraphy Pieces
- Plantable Paper Goods
A sheet that began as loose fiber can ultimately become something deeply personal.
That's one of our favorite things about making paper.
The process doesn't end when the sheet leaves our papermill.
That's when its next purpose begins.
Four Handmade Paper Collections, Four Distinct Personalities
Our different fibers and papermaking techniques give each Porridge Papers Collection its own character.
1889 Collection
Our 1889 Collection is made from cotton linter and pays tribute to Nebraska's papermaking history, inspired by the state's first paper mill, which was founded in Kearney.
The cotton fiber creates a soft, substantial sheet with the tactile quality associated with traditional handmade paper. Natural deckled edges and visible fiber formation give the collection an old-world, artisan character that works beautifully for Letterpress Printing, Invitations, Stationery, and other fine paper applications.
Sweet Wilds Collection
Sweet Wilds starts with the same beautiful cotton-based handmade paper but adds something special: wildflower seeds.
The result is a sheet that can have a life beyond its original purpose. Use it as Stationery, an Invitation, a Note, or another printed piece.
When its first purpose is complete, the paper can be planted and given a second life in the garden. It is handmade paper designed to be enjoyed twice.
Plantable Seed Paper
Our Plantable Seed Paper begins with recycled envelope scraps.
We transform those discarded fibers into handmade paper and incorporate seeds into the finished sheets. The result is a paper that combines recycled materials, traditional papermaking, and the possibility of growing something new.
It's a natural fit for Invitations, Announcements, Promotional Materials, Business Cards, Stationery, and other projects where sustainability and a memorable paper experience matter.
Blue Collar Collection
Our Blue Collar Collection is also made from recycled envelope fiber, but it has an entirely different personality.
This is a heavyweight, durable handmade paper inspired by a day in the life of Joe—a real blue-collar American worker.
It's strong, substantial, and made to take a punch.
Like the people and stories that inspired it, Blue Collar isn't delicate.
It's hardworking paper.
Why Handmade Paper Matters
We live in a world where nearly everything can be produced faster, more uniformly, and with less human involvement.
We don't think paper needs to be that way.
- There is value in knowing where something came from.
- There is value in working with natural fibers.
- There is value in giving discarded materials another purpose.
- There is value in developing our own colors and processes.
And there is something special about knowing that the sheet in your hands was individually pulled by a person in our papermill.
That's what handmade means to us.
Fiber. Water. Pigment. Pressure. Time. And a whole lot of hands-on work. From the first fiber that enters our hydrapulper to the final sheet that leaves our drying boxes, every sheet of our handmade paper has a story.
And if you look closely, you can see it.
Experience Handmade Paper for Yourself
Whether you're a Letterpress Printer, Designer, Calligrapher, Event Professional, Artist, or simply someone who appreciates beautiful paper, we invite you to explore our handmade paper collections.
Discover the soft cotton fibers of the 1889 Collection, the wildflower-filled sheets of Sweet Wilds, the recycled fibers of Plantable Seed Paper, or the rugged character of Blue Collar.
Because when paper is made by hand, the material and craftsmanship become part of the message. And that's what makes Porridge Papers different.
