News & Announcements

(This is an updated version of our June 8 announcement that includes more specific information on finding both the Spartan Recreation Center and the Cascade Room.) Thanks to Club Secretary Don Hall (who is also sponsoring the cost for the first few months), we have a bigger space for our Northside meetings! Starting September 19, our Northside meetings on the third Saturday of the month will meet in the Cascade Room at Spartan Recreation Center in Shoreline! (202 NE 185th Str

After twenty-two years of inky fun, the Seattle Pen Club is now incorporated as a 501(c)7 nonprofit social club! Yay! Why did we do this? We've grown—a lot. The SPC began as a small group of friends occasionally meeting in a coffee shop. Now, we are dozens meeting multiple times every month in person and hundreds interacting online. Over the decades, we have aimed to be a welcoming, inclusive group who supports everyone’s unique approach to the hobby. A Sailor Professional

By John R. and Alicia S. An Esterbrook Quirky Leaf fountain pen and ink swatches. Could you find similar treasures at a pen show? Photo by an SPC member. Every year, our resident transit expert, John R., puts together a handy guide for traveling to the San Francisco International Pen Show and back home to Washington State in one day. No need for luggage, a rideshare, or a hotel! This year's show is August 27–30 at the Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel in Millbrae, CA. View J

By Casey K. and Alicia S. A collection of Kaweco Sport fountain pens. From top to bottom: Goldspot Transparent Purple, Ocean Blue, Iridescent Pearl, Lunar Sport Light Green, Glow in the Dark (2026 DIY), Lunar Sport Shadow Green, Galen Leather Vivianite, Goldspot Transparent Turquoise, Black Crystal. Photo contributed by an SPC member. Seattle’s Grapheme, a letterpress studio and retail shop in the Central District, will be one of the 22 shops around the United States to host

by Alicia, Casey, and Susan It’s that time of year again! Pelikan Hub registration is open now through August 7! If you’d like to volunteer to host a hub, applications are open until August 14. This year’s Pelikan Hubs will take place on Friday, September 25 at 6:30pm. As always, this is a free event! What is Pelikan Hub? Every year, Pelikan (the pen and ink maker) hosts a free event held around the world on the same date (September 25 this year). Any city that garners at lea

By Susan Jones-Davis, Club President Edited by Alicia S., Website Manager Photos by Members Joveth G and Teresa Widdowon Cartridges vs Converters: The Most Common Ways for a Pen to Hold Ink Part of the fun of using bottled ink is, well, the bottles! Photo by Joveth G. Inside most modern fountain pens, the ink is contained within a cartridge or a converter. There are other filler systems, but they are much less common. Cartridges Many newer fountain pens can use either disposa

Launching in February, Bainbridge Island will have a local pen club! A marbled blue Visconti fountain pen. Photo by Teresa Widdowson Meetups will start in February, occur every other month on the first Tuesday from 7pm to 9pm, and be held at the BARN on the 1st floor in the Commons space. Meetings are free of charge, and attendees do not need to be members of BARN. The first meetup is Tuesday February 3, 2026 at 7pm. The current plan is for future club meetings to be held in

By Susan Jones-Davis, Club President Edited by Alicia S., Website Manager Additional Assistance from Members Roshan D'Souza, Sam S., and Teresa Widdowson Why Fountain Pens? At a time when most of our communication is done electronically, some people are discovering or rediscovering the physical act of writing as a satisfying, meditative, and/or joyful process. The tactile feeling of a pen nib on the page, seeing the ink follow each stroke, creating a physical piece of communi

Photo by Teresa. Our resident transit expert, John R., put together a handy guide for traveling to the San Francisco International Pen...

By Casey & Alicia Hello, Pen Friends! [Please note that this information pertains to events for 2025. If you are interested in information for 2026, please view this updated posted.] Pelikan Hub registration is open now through August 21! A Pelikan M800. Photo by Roshan. What is Pelikan Hub? Every year, Pelikan (the pen and ink maker) hosts a free event held around the world on the same date (October 24 this year). Any city that garners at least 7 registrants may host an even

Missing your SPC newsletter? Club Coordinator Susan has set up a new way to manage the SPC newsletter. This means the newsletter should...

In response to feedback received in our 2024 club survey, we have a new place to socialize online! Our very own Discord server is up and running. This is in addition to our Facebook group, which isn't going anywhere. And, of course, our in-person meetings are still going strong. If you'd like to join the Discord server, fill out this super brief 3-question form to receive the link . Or, if you're part of our Facebook group , the link has been shared there. You're also welcome

by Alicia, website manager Lamy Azurite ink and a Pelikan Blue Planet pen with a BB Italic stub nib. Photo by Roshan D. What is this information/document? In the summer and fall of 2024, the Seattle Pen Club (SPC) conducted its first ever survey of members, mostly around what members wanted from the SPC’s online presence. This document addresses some common queries, requests, and themes that popped up in the survey. A call for volunteers is also included at the end. (More is