25 Free Practice Sheets For Calligraphy (+ Tutorials)
Whether it's day 1 or day 1,000, ALL calligraphers use free calligraphy practice sheets to guide their practice.
Even us, Jillian and Jordan, the calligraphers here at Loveleigh Loops (cue us waving!).
From mastering the basics of calligraphy to developing a unique individual style, lettering worksheets build consistency and give an invisible boost to your final composition. The impact is enormous.
Save it for later! ↓
That's why we're opening our calligraphy practice sheet vault and sharing our calligraphy printables that have been used by more than 25,000 students.
Here you'll find free lettering worksheets for traditional calligraphy, modern calligraphy and even digital lettering on the Procreate App.
We are SO excited for you to get practicing with these free printable worksheets. Ready your brush pens, nibs and Apple Pencils and let's dive in!
Table of Contents
How Do You Practice Calligraphy?
You practice calligraphy by building muscle memory through repetition. Just like memorizing vocabulary at school or remembering all the turns in a new commute, calligraphy isn't learned all at once. Instead, you build your knowledge, one step, word or street at a time.
Rather than practicing whole sentences at once, you practice calligraphy by breaking your composition down into smaller sections:
Sentences into words
Words into letters
Letters into the basic strokes
Example of building the letter A out of 3 separate strokes
Improving your lettering skills is nothing more than breaking your hand lettering down into the smallest possible elements and perfecting each one individually.
After mastering the fundamentals through practice, you can break away from the standard letterforms and find your own unique lettering style.
It all starts with a strong writing foundation built using a lettering worksheet (correctly!).
How Do You Use Calligraphy Practice Sheets?
As the single BEST tool for calligraphy practice, free worksheets are guaranteed to improve your calligraphy skills... as long as you use them correctly.
First, quickly acquaint yourself with the lines of your calligraphy worksheet:
Learning the names of each line will make tutorials easier to follow
Each line on your calligraphy worksheet has a name, and being familiar with these names will help you follow tutorial instructions correctly.
Tip: Keep some additional paper around to place under your hand. Called a guard sheet, this protects your finished composition from being discolored by the oils from your hand.
A guard sheet is a calligraphers’ friend!
You may also like: Our Favorite Lettering Supplies
Using a calligraphy practice sheet is straightforward. When you're practicing, your goal is always consistency. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Keep all the strokes parallel to the slanted line
Only stemloops reach the ascender or descender lines
The other strokes stay within the x-height
Reference the guide sheet image above with the line names as you learn these terms!
As you're writing, remember that calligraphy is NOT about speed. This style of handwriting is all about perfection and beauty. With those worksheet fundamentals under your belt, let's talk about how to choose the practice worksheets that are right for you!
Choosing The Right One
Good calligraphy practice is more than just repeating the basic calligraphy strokes: it's all about choosing the right calligraphy worksheet for your utensil and style.
In order to choose which sheets you want to download, consider these things:
Size: Some of our free calligraphy practice sheets come in multiple sizes to acommodate different pen sizes. Large brush pens require practice sheets with a taller x-height.
Slant: There's a difference in slant between certain calligraphy scripts. While you can practice hand lettering or brush lettering on any practice sheet, working on specific scripts such as Copperplate or Spencerian requires different sheets.
Paper: Your choice of writing utensil dictates which type of paper you should use.
The most common mistake we see students make is printing their calligraphy worksheet on the wrong type of paper. The wrong paper choice can cause ink to run across the page and your brush pen or nib to be damaged.
Here's a quick guide for using your free printables:
For a brush pen lettering worksheet, use Canson Marker Paper
For a pointed pen (AKA a dip pen) worksheet, use HP Premium 32lb Paper
For a normal marker, household pen or pencil (for faux calligraphy), use any paper
Easy tip: If you want to practice right away before buying the right type of paper, use a pencil, Crayola marker or an iPad. These don't get damaged by paper like nibs and brush pens.
You may also like: Complete Guide To Calligraphy Paper
If this is overwhelming and you're not sure where to start, don't worry! We'll start with the most popular calligraphy worksheet for beginners and will show you how to use it.
With these ideas in mind, time to move on to the worksheets!
20+ Free Calligraphy Practice Sheets
Here you'll find the exact printables used by 25,000+ students, and ourselves as we practice.
Each of these worksheets is free, so download as many as you want to try! When you download the worksheets, we’ll send you a confirmation email for each, plus another follow up email. Be warned—your inbox may be flooded with helpful calligraphy resources :)
The worksheets and printables you see here cover all the basics, from pen and paper practice sheets to iPad calligraphy worksheets for use in the Procreate App.
First up, practice sheets for pen and paper calligraphy!
Pen And Paper Printables
Whether you're dreaming of writing unique handwritten invitations for your wedding, custom greeting cards or a beautiful quote to hang in your home, these sheets will help you reach a finished product that you love looking at.
These printable worksheets help you master the basics of calligraphy. You'll find practice materials for modern calligraphy such as brush lettering as well as pointed pen and pencil calligraphy.
Each of these beginner-friendly worksheets comes with a few examples to inspire you as well as plenty of space for your own writing practice.
Not sure where to start? Download practice sheet #1 and use a pencil or a household marker
Calligraphy Basics Practice Sheets
Getting the basics right is a fundamental part of learning calligraphy.
All the links here lead to free worksheets that help you take your first steps into the world of beautiful writing.
1. Basic Calligraphy Strokes
Going back to the calligraphy fundamentals, this sheet is all about mastering the individual strokes that make up the letters of the lowercase alphabet.
There are 8 strokes in total, and by working on each of them individually, you build a solid foundation for writing whole letters and words in unison.
We have an accompanying in-depth tutorial on the basic calligraphy strokes where we'll teach you how to practice and write one stroke at a time:
👉 Tutorial: Calligraphy Basic Strokes Tutorial
2. Calligraphy Guide Sheets
These simple calligraphy practice sheets are ones that we use on a regular basis. They contain the slanted guidelines that are essential for creating consistency in your letters.
Choose from different…
Orientations: portrait or landscape
Styles: Copperplate, block letters or faux calligraphy
Sizes: for small to large pens
Consider using this printable worksheet if you're familiar with your basic strokes and are ready to write whole words and sentences at once.
Want some inspiration for what to write? Try one of these writing prompts or use our calligraphy idea generator!
3. Faux Calligraphy
Faux calligraphy, or fake calligraphy, is all about creating an end result that looks like calligraphy without the need for pressure-sensitive pens (like a brush pen or a dip pen).
Instead of adding shading as you write each of the basic strokes, in faux calligraphy, you write the basic lowercase letters (also called the minuscules) FIRST and then circle back to add shading.
In the process, you become familiar with letter shading which makes faux calligraphy an excellent place to start!
One of our favorite things about faux calligraphy is that you can do it with any pen, pencil or even a Crayola marker you have them.
If you want to try your hand at calligraphy, pencil calligraphy is an excellent way to wet your toes without wetting any nibs!
👉 Tutorial: Easy Faux Calligraphy Tutorial
4. Capital Alphabet Worksheet
After working on the basic strokes and the lowercase alphabet, consider writing the uppercase alphabet (also called the majuscules) next.
This calligraphy worksheet shows you how to write the majuscules so you can make them a regular part of your calligraphy and hand lettering.
As a bonus, we'll show the uppercase alphabet in two different styles to inspire you to come up with your own!
👉 Tutorial: Calligraphy Capital Letters
Traditional Calligraphy Practice Sheets
Nibs at the ready! Get ready to practice traditional calligraphy with this collection of free practice sheets.
Reminder: Print these practice sheets on HP Premium 32lb Paper to avoid damaging your nib or having your ink bleed across the page.
5. Copperplate Basic Strokes Worksheet
Our Copperplate basic calligraphy strokes worksheet is the perfect starting point for anyone interested in traditional calligraphy.
The sheet comes with the standard x-height and 55-degree slanted guidelines plus traceable basic strokes to help you practice.
Learning how to use a pointed pen takes some practice, so take your time and be patient as you get acquainted with your nib.
👉 Tutorial: How To Practice Copperplate Calligraphy
6. Copperplate Capital Stems
Just like the lowercase alphabet, the Copperplate capital letters are built using a set of fundamental building blocks.
At Loveleigh Loops, we teach the capital letters using 5 simple strokes.
On this sheet, you can find the Capital Stem Loop, plus a few of its variations. Trace over this stroke to practice and build muscle memory.
👉 Tutorial: Copperplate Calligraphy Capital Letters
7. Calligraphy Flourishing Worksheet
Take your calligraphy to the next level by adding flourishes to your repertoire!
Flourishes are a challenging and fun way to make your writing look more elegant.
As an important part of both modern calligraphy and traditional lettering, the art of flourishing can really elevate your compositions.
This calligraphy worksheet bundle helps you practice as well as inspires you to come up with your own unique flourish designs.
👉 Tutorial: Calligraphy Flourishes For Beginners
Modern Calligraphy Worksheets
There are so many things you can do with modern calligraphy! While traditional scripts follow a specific set of rules, modern calligraphy starts with the rules and then breaks off into unique stylistic choices.
A favorite tool for modern calligraphy is the humble brush pen. Brush pens are like markers, but they're specifically made to help you write letters with more control and flexibility.
A quick brush lettering demonstration
The creative choices are endless: you can blend brush pen colors together or create stunning watercolor backgrounds to make your handwriting even more beautiful and colorful.
There are plenty of reasons to learn modern calligraphy and these free, printable worksheets will help you succeed!
You may also like: Traditional Versus Modern Calligraphy
8. Brush Lettering
We love brush lettering at Loveleigh Loops. Brush pens come in endless sizes and colors, with all of the choices practically making you feel like a kid again.
Each calligraphy worksheet in this collection comes in different sizes and works for both smaller and larger brush pens.
Besides practice sheets, you'll find various drills and warm-up exercises which make these sheets perfect for newbies and pros alike.
👉 Tutorial: Complete Beginner's Guide To Brush Pen Lettering
Calligraphy Style Development Worksheets
Part of the fun of calligraphy is coming up with your own style and designs.
The following worksheets have all been created to inspire you to look beyond what's on the page.
If you're interested in going down the road less traveled, these are for you.
9. Letter Logic
This particular set of worksheets doesn't focus on perfecting letters or scripts. Instead, the Letter Logic practice sheets show you how to take your existing style of writing and expand it into different styles.
With plenty of examples and inspiration, finding your own calligraphy style has never been easier.
Using our letter logic worksheets, we'll show you step-by-step how to create new letter variations and word styles.
10. Stylized Mr. And Mrs.
Something as simple as “Mr. and Mrs.” might seem like it’s doomed to be plain, but there is so much stylization you can add with brush lettering, even to simple words!
Perfect for anyone writing wedding invitations or letters, our Mr. and Mrs. printables will teach you 8 variations of the same letters to inspire you to tweak your own handwriting and come up with something truly unique.
These traceable sheets teach different letter forms, primarily in the bounce lettering family.
11. Months Of The Year
Perfect for your bullet journal, learn fun new ways to write the days of the year with this traceable guide.
Using our months of the year worksheet, you’ll enjoy analyzing the subtle differences between each style and experimenting with new scripts.
This is a peek at what you can learn in our Lettering for Planners book.
You may also like: Free + Paid Calligraphy Courses
12. Thank You
Have you ever wondered how to write “thank you” in calligraphy? It’s the #1 calligraphy phrase that people search on Google!
Search no more with these traceable thank-you worksheets. See “thank you” written in multiple calligraphy styles. Practice by tracing the guides and then writing for yourself.
13. Happy Birthday
Just like with the thank you printable, here you have another traceable calligraphy worksheet that teaches you how to write happy birthday.
How helpful will this be for your next birthday card?! Practice writing happy birthday in calligraphy in three different styles: traditional, modern and flourished.
Procreate Practice Sheets
Do you prefer the Apple Pencil over a brush pen, and a screen over a page? Then you'll love these free practice sheets for Procreate calligraphy.
In order to use these free digital calligraphy worksheets, you need:
An Apple Pencil
An iPad compatible with the Apple Pencil (check your iPad without iPad buying guide)
The Procreate App
Simply download the practice sheets of your choice and you'll get them as PNG files. These are all beginner-friendly resources (we promise!), and each worksheet comes with instructions for installation.
14. Free Procreate Brush And Worksheets
Procreate calligraphy is most effectively done with our specialized Procreate calligraphy brush, called the Loveleigh Brush (see it above in action).
It's perfect for practicing the basic calligraphy strokes as it changes color when you add pressure.
In addition to the brush itself, you'll also get easy installation instructions and free calligraphy practice sheets with traceable words.
👉 Tutorial: Introduction To Procreate Calligraphy
15. Procreate Guide Sheets
For more general iPad lettering practice, use our basic Procreate guide sheets.
This is an extremely helpful Procreate worksheet that will help you practice the fundamentals of iPad lettering.
The slanted grid will help you maintain consistent spacing and build muscle memory while writing.
Each of the sheets in this collection comes in different sizes, which makes them perfect for practicing different letter sizes.
Ready your Loveleigh Brush and let's go!
You may also like: How To Improve Your iPad Lettering
16. "Love What You Do" Traceable Quote
Also known as, our Intro to iPad Lettering course.
Need a little more training to get the hang of iPad lettering? These next 2 free resources are for you.
First up is Intro to iPad Lettering, a workshop where you can complete a quote practice sheet along with us in a training video.
The quote reads "love what you do," and our free worksheet includes guides that you trace to complete this composition for yourself.
Besides a free worksheet, you get a complementary iPad workshop that shows you the ins and outs of iPad lettering.
This worksheet is a great way to dabble in iPad calligraphy to see if you enjoy this medium before diving into the fundamentals like our next worksheet.
👉 Tutorial: Intro To iPad Lettering
17. iPad Basic Calligraphy Strokes
If you're ready to learn the fundamentals of iPad calligraphy, then this free course is perfect for you.
Much more than just a worksheet, iPad Calligraphy Basics comes with a complete online course covering the basics of iPad calligraphy and the Procreate App.
While the previous resource taught you to write a specific quote, this free training will focus on teaching your the basic strokes so that you can write any word you’d like.
Recognize the basic strokes from our printable basic strokes worksheet?
18. "You Are Magical" Flourishing Template
Flourishing may be intimidating, but there's no better way to start than on the iPad.
Start your flourishing journey with our "you are magical" quote template!
This worksheet is a simple traceable composition that you can create along with us in our video tutorial.
👉 Tutorial: iPad Flourishing Guide
19. "Amazing Things" Traceable iPad Template
Grab your traceable quote worksheet, "You are made for amazing things," and pull up a chair to our beginner iPad lettering workshop.
This workshop teaches you the fundamentals of doing digital calligraphy, using the quote worksheet as your canvas.
In this entire free training, we'll show you how to:
Install the worksheet on your iPad
Choose your brush, brush size and brush color
Trace using pressure control
Download your traceable quote worksheet now and follow along with the video tutorial!
20. “Journey” iPad Spencerian Traceable Quote
Try your hand at the unique and elegant Spencerian script with this traceable Chinese Proverb quote worksheet.
While Copperplate is the most well-known calligraphy script, Spencerian has garnered many fans for its delicate slanted style.
Get instant access to this digital worksheet to try it for yourself.
👉 Tutorial: Spencerian Script For Beginners
21. Calligraphy Flourishes Traceable Alphabet
Try your hand at flourishing on your iPad with this traceable alphabet worksheet.
To use this as a worksheet in Procreate, open this blog post on your iPad and then press down on the image to save it to your camera roll.
Then open Procreate, insert the image and start tracing a new layer!
Open this page on your iPad, then press down on the image to save it to your camera roll!
Practice Sheets For Kids
If you're a complete beginner (or parent of one), then we have something cool to close out this resource list with.
We have an entire free kids' calligraphy course called Creative Calligraphy Camp that includes a mountain of calligraphy printables for kids of different ages.
Getting your kids involved in calligraphy teaches a set of skills that's both fun and beneficial. The printables in this free calligraphy course teach your child various lettering skills in an educational and exciting way.
Pressure control is a skill that can be difficult for young kids, but that doesn't mean that they can't start learning about the art of writing beautifully.
Get ALL of the below calligraphy practice sheets when you sign up for Creative Calligraphy Camp. Simply print the entire PDF workbook.
22. Color-In Quote For Kids
This calligraphy worksheet will feel less like homework and more like a fun coloring exercise.
We've written the quote "bloom where you are planted" in calligraphy and kids can color it in for themselves.
Ask older kids if they can spot the difference in thickness within the letters, and try to teach them about downstrokes and upstrokes.
👉 Tutorial: Starting Kids With Calligraphy
23. Negative Space Exercise
Instead of coloring in the letters of the alphabet, color around them with this negative space worksheet.
Kids can fill in the negative space freeform, or you can draw a guide such as a box or a circle around this alphabet.
24. Modular Alphabet
This dotted alphabet and open shaded alphabet are creative alphabet variations that are perfect for kids to trace.
Start by tracking the letters and if kids are capable, challenge them to use the printable as a cheat sheet and write their worn words copying the style.
25. Bubble Alphabet
Let kids enjoy coloring these different bubble alphabet letters!
Start with normal coloring, and challenge older kids to create patterns, blend colors or fill in the negative space to contrast the letters.
These are just a few examples of the printables in our kids' calligraphy course. Use the button above to sign up for instant access to all of the free worksheets.
Next Steps
Feeling excited to print your worksheet and practice your brush lettering, faux calligraphy or traditional scripts?! We hope you'll stick around and keep writing with us.
Beyond the free printables and free calligraphy courses, we also have a thriving community of fellow calligraphy students for you to be a part of. We’d love for you to join us there! If you have any follow up comments or questions, you can leave a comment for us in our Facebook group and we'll try to help.
Click to join us!
We really hope you'll become a part of the community of calligraphers who are improving their writing one day and one free printable at a time.
Please make yourself at home and dive into some more free learning resources:
Our YouTube channel with hundreds of tutorials
Our Instagram account where we share tips and tutorials 3 times a week
Our specific iPad calligraphy Facebook community where we answer questions and share resources
