• What is “Janet Style Calligraphy”?

    Back in 2015, I created a calligraphy style for a bride named Janet—and I’ve been using it ever since. “Janet Style” has become one of the most popular calligraphy styles on the TPK site. Today, I’ll share the story behind it, what makes it unique, and how you can learn to write it too.

    Janet style envelopes

    There are six core calligraphy worksheet sets available on the TPK website. Each one teaches a unique style through guided drills, exemplars, and plenty of practice. Today, I want to highlight my personal favorite: Janet Style. In this article, I’ll share how the style came to be and what I love about it. You’ll also get a heads-up about the trickiest letter in the bunch!

    The Evolution of Janet Style Calligraphy

    In 2015, a bride named Janet contacted me through Etsy. She was planning her wedding and asked if I could use a traditional-style calligraphy for her envelopes. After some experimenting and refinement, I came up with what’s now known as “Janet Style” calligraphy—named in her honor. Over the years, it’s become one of the most popular styles on the TPK site. People love its elegance, flexibility, and flourish-friendly letterforms.

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    These are some of the envelopes I created for Janet back in 2015.

    The Janet isn’t a traditional style like Copperplate because the letterforms are always changing. Some days, I create this style with a ton of flourish; other days, I keep it simple. Usually, the calligraphy has a 55 degree slant, but that particular degree of slant isn’t an absolute must. It is a modern calligraphy style, after all!

    White elegant calligraphy on a black envelope
    Janet Style calligraphy looks stunning when used for black tie event envelopes.

    Pros of Using Janet Style Calligraphy

    The main advantage of writing with this style? It’s super eye-catching and elegant, with the potential for some fun.

    The "Little Black Dress" of Calligraphy Birthday Cards
    Janet Style calligraphy looks beautiful on this birthday card.

    I also love how this calligraphy style lends itself to flourishing. Nestled into a mess of flourishes, Janet Style calligraphy makes for stunning envelope art!

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    Janet Style calligraphy and iron gall ink are a match made in heaven! The two meet here on “Paper Bag” envelopes from Paper Source for a romantic, nostalgic feel.

    Cons of Using This Calligraphy Style

    One summer, I used Amy Style calligraphy and Janet Style calligraphy for my in-person workshop worksheets. Learners happily wrote Amy Style, which is the darling of the TPK website. When we reached the Janet section, though, students always expressed frustration with particular letters. The main offender? The letter “B”.

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    I’ll admit: the letter “B” can be difficult to figure out how to write … there are a lot of strokes involved.

    It can be tough, too, to write in consistent and pretty Janet Style calligraphy if you don’t have slant lines. Drawing in those slant lines can add quite a bit of time to an already time-consuming project!

    Using a pencil to draw guidelines in an envelope in preparation for making calligraphy
    I rarely write in this calligraphy style without 55 degree slant lines!

    Mainly, I’ll concede that this calligraphy style can be tough for beginners. Is it impossible to create? Absolutely not! If you want to learn this style and you practice it, you can do it. But it does require an eye for spacing (practice that with this free worksheet) and some patience with yourself.

    Centered envelope calligraphy with a wedding invitation
    Janet Style calligraphy may not be beginner-friendly, but it’s certainly worth learning.

    Janet Style Calligraphy Out in the Wild

    I see a lot of the Janet on Instagram, and it’s awesome to see what people do for variations! Here are some of my favorite photos:

    These gold place cards were created by @nwilsoncalligraphy! I’m guessing she used Finetec gold.
    @devinstanleycalligraphy used Janet style calligraphy to make these lovely envelopes!
    @thistle_and_palm‘s tiny calligraphy looks vintage and elegant written in walnut ink.

    Learning How to Write Janet Style Calligraphy

    As I mentioned earlier, this calligraphy style might not be the easiest choice for complete beginners. Can you learn it? Absolutely—with practice and patience, you can go from beginner to fluent in Janet Style. That said, the flourishes can be a bit tricky, especially when you’re also learning how to use a pointed pen.

    An envelope calligraphed using red wine
    For maximum elegance, try writing Janet Style calligraphy with wine.

    If you are new to calligraphy, I’d start with The Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course. Once you complete that course, you can move on to filling out the Janet Style Calligraphy Worksheet Set. Visual learners will appreciate the worksheet’s accompanying video course!

    Creating This Calligraphy Style with a Brush Pen

    If you love Janet Style but prefer not to use a dip pen, try it with a brush pen instead! The Janet Style Brush Pen Calligraphy Worksheet will show you how.

    Janet Style Brush Pen Calligraphy
    You can find this brush pen calligraphy worksheet here.

    A Minimalist Approach

    If you want a simple exemplar, you can find one for free by clicking here. The exemplar doesn’t show you how to create the letters, but that may suit your learning style just fine!

    Free Janet Style Calligraphy Exemplar | The Postman's Knock
    This is the free Basic Janet Style Calligraphy Exemplar.

    Whether you’re just now discovering Janet Style or you’ve been practicing it for years, I hope this article gives you some helpful insight and inspiration. Like all styles of calligraphy, the Janet has its quirks—but that’s part of what makes it so rewarding. If you’ve given this style a try, I’d love to hear how it’s gone for you. And if you’re just getting started—welcome! You’re in for something beautiful.

    Warmly,

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