Most calligraphers have multiple calligraphy styles that they use to write. The styles are generally original, and each style follows its own set of rules set forth by its inventor. To date, I have come up with five styles for The Postman’s Knock. Every one of my styles is available to learn with a detailed printable worksheet, and this post will explain what makes each one special!
1. Amy Style Calligraphy
This Amy Style envelope features fun corner flourishes. You can learn how to make these flourishes in this tutorial!
In 2013, I created Amy Style calligraphy for Philadelphia bride Amy’s envelope and escort card calligraphy. Both right- and left-handed beginners enjoy this style because there’s no right-leaning slant to it! Not having to focus on making a slant reduces the dip pen calligraphy learning curve.
This calligraphy style is best created with a straight calligraphy pen. If you’re a beginner, try a Nikko G nib!
If you’d like to learn Amy Style calligraphy, you can do one of the following:
- Download the free basic Amy Style calligraphy worksheet by clicking here.
- Purchase the Premium Amy Style calligraphy worksheet set by clicking here.
- Enroll in the Amy Style video course by clicking here.
2. Beth Style Calligraphy
This calligraphy style isn’t overly flourished, so you have the freedom to add embellishments without making your calligraphed item “over the top”.
I came up with Beth Style calligraphy in 2013 for a client named Beth. It is an excellent choice for events (like Beth’s nautical dinner party) that you don’t want to have an overly feminine feel! The Beth is a stately calligraphy style, but it retains a bit of playfulness with its occasional loops and the curled tails of letters like “y” and “g”.
While Beth Style calligraphy has a little bit of a slant to it, you can easily create it with a straight pen (versus an oblique). If you want to learn Beth Style calligraphy, you can:
- Download the free basic Beth Style calligraphy worksheet by clicking here.
- Purchase the Premium Beth Style calligraphy worksheet set by clicking here.
3. Flourish Formal Style Calligraphy
The basic philosophy of Flourish Formal calligraphy: the more swirls, the better!
In 2012, I started learning dip pen calligraphy. At the time, I was way into flourishy styles that command attention, so I came up with Flourish Formal Style. Fast forward more than five years, and I still like this calligraphy style because it’s got a lot of loops and curls! There’s always potential to customize the style by adding even more embellishments.
Flourish Formal style is great for place cards at luxe events.
If you would like to learn Flourish Formal calligraphy, you can:
- Download the free basic Flourish Formal Style calligraphy worksheet by clicking here.
- Purchase the Premium Flourish Formal calligraphy worksheet set by clicking here.
4. Janet Style Calligraphy
This calligraphy style pulls a lot of inspiration from Copperplate alphabets … it’s my current favorite!
I developed Janet Style calligraphy in 2014 for a client named Janet who wanted elegant envelope calligraphy for her holiday cards. I found inspiration in delicate Copperplate alphabets! As you create calligraphy and learn or develop multiple styles, you’ll find that you tend to use styles in phases. Right now, I’m in a Janet phase … I find myself writing in this style all the time.
I usually use Janet Style calligraphy and the envelope templates in Amazing Envelopes for a Latte to make event envelopes.
While Flourish Formal Calligraphy and Janet Style calligraphy look somewhat similar, Flourish Formal features larger letters and a lot more curl. I would say that Janet Style is the more graceful and understated of the two. If you would like to learn Janet Style calligraphy, you can:
- Download the free basic Janet Style calligraphy worksheet by clicking here.
- Purchase the Premium Janet Style calligraphy worksheet set by clicking here.
5. Kaitlin Style Calligraphy
It’s difficult not to fall in love with Kaitlin Style calligraphy because it’s so fun and carefree!
In 2012, a bride named Kaitlin got in touch with me and requested a fresh, spontaneous, and artistic calligraphy style for her wedding. That was how bouncy, modern Kaitlin Style calligraphy came to be! This is a great calligraphy style if you don’t like drawing calligraphy guidelines. You can self-correct with dramatic upstrokes or downstrokes if words start sloping up or down too much!
Kaitlin Style calligraphy takes less time to make than other calligraphy styles. Effectively, if you have a lot of text to write, it’s a great choice!
If Kaitlin Style calligraphy interests you, you can:
- Download the free basic Kaitlin Style calligraphy worksheet by clicking here.
- Purchase the Premium Kaitlin Style calligraphy worksheet set by clicking here.
- Enroll in the Kaitlin Style video course by clicking here.
Notes
First of all, anyone, right- or left-handed, can learn how to create any of these calligraphy styles. If you are left-handed, you may find the tips in the Creating Left-Handed Calligraphy post to be helpful!
Right-handed people may find it easiest to create calligraphy with an oblique pen. You can learn about oblique pens and what they’re for in this blog post.
Secondly, you’re welcome to use whichever dip pen you like the best. Lefties typically get along just fine with only a straight pen! If you’re right-handed, it could go either way. You may be like me and prefer to use an oblique pen, which helps you to achieve a nice slant. Or, you may prefer to use a straight pen. It’s all about whatever you are comfortable with!
My collection of pens, while beloved, is way larger than it should be. You really just need one good calligraphy pen and nib!
Finally, I want to note that I will be re-doing the Amy Style and Kaitlin Style worksheets (and video courses) in 2018. At that time, the price of the worksheets will rise from $5.00 to $10.00, just like the newer Janet, Flourish Formal, and Beth Style worksheets. (However, I will “grandfather in” owners of the $5.00 worksheets to the newest version.)
I hope that this post helps you to understand the calligraphy styles on the TPK website a little bit better! If you’d like to learn more about making your own calligraphy style, check out the How to Make Your Own Calligraphy Style post. Otherwise, feel free to use any of my styles for your projects! I love seeing social media posts of envelopes, cards, etc. that use a TPK calligraphy style … it tells me that I’m doing something right with my teaching techniques. 🙂
Warmly,
Thank you for this post to illustrate the different styles. Amy style is my favorite – probably because it is so different from my own style. Now if there was only more time. (And my own craft room to practice more.) This has been on my wish list to learn since I first found you a few years ago. Thank you for your posts and for sharing your work, and spreading love and kindness along the way!
Lovely ideas and creations, Lindsey! <3
Thanks, Christiane! Love the month bullet journal pages on your Instagram feed. 🙂
Amazing as always! I am working on Kaitlin.
Love the Kaitlin! It’s a little bit trick to get the hang of, but once you do, it’s a low-fuss style that’s a lot of fun to make!
Thanks, Lindsey, for this post. I have all of the worksheet sets, but it’s fun to hear the stories behind each one, and the suggested uses. You ARE doing something right with all of this! 🙂
Thanks, Katrina! I’m really glad you enjoyed the post. I think I neglected to mention in the post that the Kaitlin and Amy worksheets and video courses will be re-done next year (huge 2018 goal of mine)! Current owners will, of course, be entitled to the update. 🙂