Category: DIY

Disclaimer: I’m not going to lie… I have been procrastinating creating these tutorial-based blog posts for quite a while now. Those of you on my mailing list can attest to this. Why? Well, I decided to hop on the comparison train.

Have you seen what famous letterers are producing these days? They have created some impeccable classes, practice sheets, books, videos, the list goes on.

I let all of this get to me and dissuade me from writing for you. For that, I apologize. I know you are here because you want to hear what I have to say no matter how bonkers it feels to me that you value my words.

With all of that nonsense out of the way, the following is my first attempt at creating something beneficial for aspiring letterers and curious onlookers alike. Thank you a billion times over for your patience and willingness to support me through this process.

Upon reviewing the sheets in their entirety, I have narrowed down my preferences to the following:

Favorites–

D, J, L, N

J and L are, in fact, my initials, so I have had a lot more practice writing them. D and N ended up looking lovely after just a few attempts. I especially enjoyed adding a flourish to the capital D.

Least Favorites–

F, P, T, X

I have never fully conquered the cursive F, and I wish it were easier. I suppose until I find a different way to write it I will continue to find it particularly challenging. The T is a similar style, so it falls under my less-than-ideal letters to write. P just lacked a certain special something for me. You may be fooled by my example, but I find X’s to be oddly difficult.

What I Learned

1. Sometimes you can surprise yourself with a particularly stunning letter on the first try
2. A letter almost never looks perfect on the first try
3. Keeping a consistent angle among the entire alphabet is necessary for uniformity and a prettier result
4. Playing around with flourishes and varying styles helps you find a way of writing each letter to be just your type**
5. No matter your skill level, practicing is a prerequisite of success

*This is the first part of a song I learned as a lullaby for the baby girl I used to nanny. She’s precious and has grown up all too quickly!
**Pun intended