• 5 Free Lettering and Calligraphy Guidelines

    The TPK website is home to five free printable lettering and calligraphy guidelines. The guidelines are versatile and handy: you can use them to make orderly envelopes, practice your skills, or use them for projects like quote artwork!

    Calligraphy Guidelines | The Postman's Knock
    I recommend reading this article to learn about how to draw calligraphy guidelines (and what they’re for).

    With so many resources on the TPK website, it’s easy to overlook some helpful gems. To make it easier, I occasionally compile a few highlights. Today, I’m focusing on free lettering and calligraphy guidelines. TPK worksheets always come with guidelines, but you’ll also find a variety of free guideline printables on the site. Here’s a list, in no particular order:

    1. “Perfect Envelope” Calligraphy Guidelines

    The Perfect Calligraphy Envelope Generator

    These calligraphy guidelines are fabulous for right-leaning, neat letters (like Janet Style or Flourish Formal Style). I like that the guideline trios are pretty close together on this guideline sheet. As a result, you may have some descenders that intersect ascenders on the next line, but I like that look. Here’s an example of what an envelope with these guidelines might look like:

    Perfectly centered pointed pen calligraphy envelope

    DOWNLOAD THESE GUIDELINES

    2. Name Emphasis Calligraphy Guidelines

    I love these calligraphy guidelines because they emphasize the recipient’s name(s) with a larger size. I usually use this template with Janet Style calligraphy (as shown below), but any style will work. For the sake of versatility, this template does not include slant lines. If you find slant lines helpful, please feel free to draw them in yourself.

    Calligraphy Guidelines | The Postman's Knock

    Here’s an example of wedding envelopes that I calligraphed using this guidelines template:

    Janet Style Calligraphy Envelopes | The Postman's Knock
    I used Janet Style calligraphy and iron gall ink to make these lovely envelopes. The A7 envelopes are “Paper Bag” from Paper Source.

    DOWNLOAD THESE GUIDELINES

    3. Christmas Tree Envelope Art Guidelines

    I developed these guidelines for the Christmas Tree Envelope Art Tutorial. The spacing is similar to the “Name Emphasis Calligraphy Guidelines”, but this guidelines sheet includes an extra space at the top for a “Ms.”, “Mrs.”, or “Mr.”

    Christmas Tree Holiday Envelope Art Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    Once you fill in the guidelines and work some pointed pen magic, you could end up with an envelope that looks like this:

    Christmas Tree Holiday Envelope Art Tutorial | The Postman's Knock
    For exact instructions over how to make envelope art like this, see this tutorial.

    DOWNLOAD THESE GUIDELINES

    4. Hand-Lettering Guidelines Template

    This guidelines template is a little bit different than the rest of the printables on this list because you cut guided rectangles out of it. Then, you write the recipient’s address is in all-caps lettering style (I like George or Stitches) inside of the rectangles!

    Hand Lettering Guidelines Free Printable Template

    Remove the template, and the result will look something like this:

    Hand Lettering Guidelines Free Printable Template

    5. Calligraphy Exemplar Guidelines

    If you want to make your own calligraphy style exemplar, these guidelines sheets should help a lot! One version includes slant lines, while the other does not.

    How to Make a Calligraphy Exemplar | The Postman's Knock
    It will be easiest to use these calligraphy exemplar guidelines with the help of a light box.

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    Premium Upgrade Option: Practice Guidelines Collection (7 Pages)

    Blank guidelines with slant lines are versatile because you can write on them to practice your calligraphy or lettering! As long as you print them out on 32# laserjet paper, you should have a great writing experience. This set of seven pages is available for a nominal fee.

    Free Lettering and Calligraphy Guidelines for TPK Subscribers | The Postman's Knock

    The collection includes seven guideline printables that you can use for general practice or for projects. It’s totally up to you!

    Free Lettering and Calligraphy Guidelines for TPK Subscribers
    I used the guidelines in this packet to make the calligraphy for the Intermediate Modern Calligraphy Online Course.

    Remember, if none of the guideline templates in this article quite do it for you, it’s easy to make your own! With the help of a pencil and a parallel glider, you’ll be well on your way to orderly lettering nirvana. It’s my hope, however, that at least one of these printouts helps you to practice your calligraphy or make a cool project! And remember, if you need guided practice, there are plenty of free worksheets here on TPK.

    Thank you and enjoy,

    You can preorder "The Calligraphy Book" today.