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