When I released the Amy Style worksheet set, I also made an optional video course to accompany it. The video course was born out of feedback I had received from visual learners. Many of these learners suggested that it would be easier to catch on to the concept/style if I could show them letter formations, how to hold a dip pen, etc. in a video.
After receiving good feedback from users of the Amy Style video course, I decided to make one for the Kaitlin Style. The Kaitlin Style has remained the most popular calligraphy worksheet set on TPK, so I knew there were many beginners who could benefit from it! The problem? When I printed out the worksheet set (originally released in July 2014), I could see a lot of room for improvement.
While the first version of the worksheet set was sufficient, and certainly has helped many modern calligraphy learners, I found a lot of things I wanted to tweak. First of all, I wanted to add a pop of color, a couple of illustrations, and a better layout. Secondly, and most importantly, I knew I should listen to user feedback and add a section on how to alternate the stroke dips, provide more room for practice, and help with achieving a right-leaning slant. The more I thought about it, the more it became evident that I needed to conduct a complete calligraphy worksheet overhaul.
I got to work right away, and the final result is something I know you’ll love! No graphics or calligraphy have been recycled from the first worksheet set; everything was re-written and created using the latest versions of Photoshop and InDesign. A few of my favorite new features include a smarter faux calligraphy section design; instead of having you reference a separate sheet of paper to determine how a letter is made, the worksheet shows you how to create every letter right before you write it.
As far as the dip pen section is concerned, the first worksheet set didn’t give you a lot of room to practice. This set, however, encourages you to write each letter fifteen times. That’s a lot of room to master a letterform!
I know a lot of people have trouble with letter connections, so I included a section to practice a lot of commonly-used words, e.g. “Happy”, “Birthday”, “New”. This section will be helpful for reference whether you’re creating calligraphy for a holiday card, or if you wonder “how do two ‘p’s connect together?”.
Finally, I addressed an issue that a lot of Kaitlin Style learners have: knowing when to dip letters low, and when to pull them back up. While there’s no “you have to”-type of system to it, I developed a “1, 2, 3 Rule” that will prove immeasurably helpful when confronting this problem!
If you are new to the calligraphy world, all you need to get started are the tools listed in the Ultimate Modern Calligraphy Starter Kit plus the new Kaitlin Worksheet. If you have created calligraphy before, you might consider investing in an oblique pen to write this style; I depend on mine a lot when I’m making slanted calligraphy.
All of the calligraphy worksheets on TPK were developed with the sole objective of helping you to learn the best you can; so it’s my business philosophy that when an update is made to a product, current product owners should be entitled to it free of charge. Effectively, if you purchased the previous version of the Kaitlin Style premium worksheet, you can easily access this one! Here are three ways to do it:
- Sign in to your account on TPK, then scroll down to “Available Downloads”. Click on “Premium Calligraphy Worksheet Set {Kaitlin Style}”; the file you download will be the new worksheet set.
- If you do not have a TPK account, search your inbox for the order confirmation email you received when you purchased the Kaitlin set. Once you find it, click the Kaitlin download link in the email. The resulting download will be the new worksheet set!
- If you do not have a TPK account and your order confirmation email has disappeared into the ether, don’t fret! Just send me an email ([email protected]) letting me know which email address you used to make your purchase of the original Kaitlin set. I can then go into the system and have your order confirmation email (including the download link) re-sent to you.
After I finished the worksheet yesterday, I was so happy/proud that I decided to make a little video to explain some of the new bells and whistles!
If you do not own the previous version of the Kaitlin Style worksheet set, the new worksheet is still part of the Learn Calligraphy for a Latté collection. Effectively, it’s only $5.00! You can purchase it by clicking here.
Thanks very much for reading TPK (and humoring my excitement about this worksheet set makeover)! I hope you have a good weekend. 🙂
Warmly,
Hi Lindsey!
I am working through your Katilin worksheet set and I’m loving it. I even got a few new nibs and an oblique holder! Super fun, but I have a question. Is it normal for the nib to only hold enough ink for about 2 letters (capitals) per dip? I always brush of a little of the extra ink so it doesn’t blotch up (it still seems to use an excessive amount on the first letter) but it almost always runs out by the third letter. I am currently using the “blue pumpkin” nib. Do you have a post about this, or about that nib in general? It seems like I should be able to at least write a whole word with out re-dipping. What am I doing wrong?
You know — I’d try another nib. Do you have the Nikko G? I really don’t have that great of luck with the Blue Pumpkin! If you’re bent on using the BP, though, I’d just try to make sure you are dipping up past the reservoir (the hole in the center). Otherwise, do give the Nikko G a shot! It’s great at holding a lot of ink and makes for great stroke contrast. Once you get used to the Nikko G, give the Brause EF66 a try. It doesn’t hold as much ink, but makes fantastic strokes!
Hello, Lindsey! Why is it called Kaitlin Calligraphy Style? Who is Kaitlin? 🙂
Thanks!
Hi Nata! Kaitlin is a client that commissioned me to do her wedding invitations in 2013 … this was the font I came up with for her materials, thus the “Kaitlin Style”. 🙂