When it comes to hand lettering basics, my best advice is to keep practicing. These Free Printable Hand Lettering Practice Sheets are designed to help you practice the strokes of each letter to build up that muscle memory.
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Hand Lettering Practice Sheets
I have always been a doodler. I used to write and draw over all my notes in school, or when I was bored. When scrapbooking got really popular, I even took a hand writing class at the local scrapbook store to add some fun word art to my scrapbook pages.
This last year I have really gotten into hand lettering. I’ve been practicing and practicing and practicing. I’m not going to say I’m that good, I still consider myself a beginner. But I’ve come a long way, and I’ve learned a few things along the way.
Not only is it important (and necessary) to practice, but learning the strokes of each letter individually is the first step to hand lettering. Instead of writing a word without taking your pen off the paper (like when you learned cursive in elementary school), you lift your pen off the paper after each stroke. That way you can change directions of the next letter/stroke to create a look that you want.
These free printable hand lettering practice sheets have every letter of the alphabet broken down by strokes. By learning each stroke for every letter, you will build up that muscle memory in your hands as you practice.
My favorite pens to use when getting started were these Tombow fudenosuke pens. I liked the hard nib when I first started practicing. It requires a bit more pressure to create a thick downstroke and was a little easier when needing a lighter up stroke. But either of these pens will work on these practice sheets. I buy mine off of Amazon, and I usually buy the set where you get one of each (soft nib and hard nib).
Free printable hand lettering practice sheets
I created this video to show you how these free printable hand lettering sheets were intended to be used.
These practice sheets will help get you started, but you will probably develop your own style as you practice more and more.
If you don’t want to print out a bunch of pages, you can download and print this single page practice sheet. It has every letter, upper and lower case, all on one page.
I also thought it would be fun to offer a page with words to practice. On the first couple I show how each letter is written alone and then how they look when written together. See how the exit stroke of each letter ends about the same point on my writing line (just below the dashed mid line)? That’s another tip for any beginners out there.
Download this hand lettering phrases practice sheet to help keep your new found skills flowing.
As an added bonus for all you fellow doodlers and hand letterers, I created this really simple alphabet variation sheet. I’ve got examples of 5 or 6 different ways to write each letter of the alphabet.
Of course there are so many ways to write any one letter, but these will hopefully get your creative juices flowing in creative your own hand lettering style.
I know I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m happy to share what I’ve learned. If you’ve got a question about hand lettering, feel free to send me an email or reach out to me on instagram. You can see some of my hand lettering by searching the hashtag #lizoncallletters.
Happy Lettering Practice!
Liz
Comments & Reviews
Thank you so much for these practice sheets, they are going to be a great help ion my lettering journey. You are a real Blessing.
Thanks for the free printable, I am 61 and just had a massive heart attack and bypass surgery. I have always wanted to learn more creative writing, an this is a prefix time to learn. Thank you so much for your help.
Thank you for sharing the sheets for free. It means a lot for someone who just start to practice hand writing like me.
You are so welcome.
Hi, I’m from Brazil, I discovered your work now and I’m entering this world of calligraphy, thank you for your exercise sheets, it’s very difficult to find for free. Your job is beautiful. I do not speak English so I desist if something is wrong, kisses
Keep it up! You are doing great!
Thanks so much for sharing this info for free!!
You are welcome
Thank you so much for the great practice sheets. I’m looking forward to lots of practice and hopefully some results as lovely as yours …..eventually!
Oh you are so welcome! It does take a lot of practice, but I’m sure your writing will look beautiful. Good luck! And let me know if you have any questions. 🙂
Thank you so much!!
You are so welcome!
Thank you! You have beautiful hand lettering, these are a great help!!
Thank you so much! I hope you find them useful.
Thanks so much, just getting started.
You are so welcome. I hope you enjoy it!
I am excited to get to practice and grow with you. I found you on bloglovin’ and absolutely love that you pointed out that it might just mean a lighter upstroke to make the contrast with the downstroke. This is a game changer and a pen saver! So glad I found you!
So glad you found it helpful!
Thank you Liz, from the bottom of my <3, so very much for taking the time to make these videos and printable hand lettering practice sheets! I would have a hard time concentrating on the lettering, never mind explaining it in such a way that a newbie like me can understand. 🙂 Since I was a little girl, I have always loved calligraphy and taught myself the traditional english style font. Now, My daughter is getting married and asked me to learn the Modern Calligraphy font. What I thought would be so easy is for some reason beyond difficult for me. (agh!) Even though I'm looking at the new Modern Calligraphy sample, It seems my brain can't unlearn my old go to font. Thanks to the kind sharing of your video and practice sheets I feel like I have a better chance to get this font down for her invitiations! Sending you all the happiness your heart can hold! God bless!
Thank you for your kind words Loraine! I hope these practice sheets were helpful and congratulations on your daughters wedding!
Thank you!
You are welcome! And good luck!