Whether you are just getting started with your hand-lettering journey or maybe you’re just curious to hear about things I love, you’re in the right place. Here’s a whole page dedicated to sharing my absolute favorite supplies for hand-lettering. I’ve done my best to list supplies for both beginners and for those who are a bit beyond beginner (because no matter how far you get, you’re always learning). These are my favorites that I’ve tried and are the products that I find myself recommending the most.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. Purchasing through these links is at no extra cost to you but if you purchase using some of the links below, I will receive a small commission. You guys know the drill and you know I will only recommend what I love. See below for full disclosure.
Beginner:
Speedball Oblique Holder – This is the cheapest place to start. I recommend these to those who are first starting and aren’t sure whether they will like oblique or straight holders due to the affordability and accessibility of the Speedball line. This is a reasonable place to start to figure out what you like so you can invest in something handmade that you will love.
Beyond Beginner (Affordable):
Feather Park Lettering – First, I want to brag about how Gina is one of the sweetest women I have had the pleasure of meeting on this journey. Next, I want to brag about her customer service because it is the BEST customer service I have ever received (quite literally ever). Lastly, let me talk about this pen since that is the point of this. Gina has filled quite the gap in the market with her elemental line of nib holders. Her elemental line is both AFFORDABLE and HANDMADE. You’ll have six colors to choose from and then there is the option to change the flange color or add foil leafing to your pen. You can choose from right or left-handed oblique or even a straight nib holder. Once you get your beautiful pen, you won’t be able to believe that you snagged it for such an affordable price. The good news is that you can continue to support her as you grow as she also has her other pens available. Side note: don’t go by what you see in her Etsy shop as her other nib holders go quickly as they are listed. Follow her on Instagram so you can stay updated with the pens she is creating if you’d rather have an investment piece from her or just contact her directly to discuss.
Beyond Beginner (Investment):
Ink Me This – This pen is an investment but it is worth every penny. Each and every pen is hand-turned by Krestel’s husband, Francisco. It’s got a thicker grip but it isn’t too thick (I’ve discovered that is important to me). I’ve found that it really the most comfortable pen I own. There is a geometry behind their pens and the flange is strategically placed to increase ink flow and reduce snagging. The resin is all custom-poured for them in California aka you’ll be getting a unique pen where lots of love went into it. It is a piece of art in itself. Her pens go quick so take a browse on her website and if you see one you love that is sold out, shoot her an e-mail and you’ll be able to reserve a custom order for yourself so you don’t have to wait for a re-stock. (Psssst: to all my lefties out there, all you need to do is let her know that and she can ensure the proper flange placement for you. She also makes straight holders when they are requested.)
First, let me say that nibs depend so much on personal preference. I have tried many favorites of others that haven’t worked as well for me. The best way to purchase nibs (in my experience) is from Paper and Ink Arts. The great thing is that you can purchase a single nib so you can buy one of a few and test them out and then order a stash of them once you find your favorite. Here’s why I recommend that: you probably won’t actually be “wasting” that much money. Let me explain. The nib you use will vary project to project. Spoiler: One nib isn’t going to work for every envelope brand or every paper out there. Now there are some that are definitely more forgiving (like the ones that I’ve listed in the beginner category below) and that can work for a LOT of things but you never know when you’ll be scrambling to find a nib that works for a last minute order and low and behold that one you thought you hated did the trick. To wrap up this monologue: Bite the bullet and order quite a few. You’ll be able to find what works best for you but I will promise you this when it comes to nibs, you are always learning. You get a new ink or a bride supplies envelopes that your favorite doesn’t work on and you’re back to the beginning again. Enjoy the process.
Beginner:
Nikko G – Nikko G nibs are described as medium flex nibs. This was my favorite when I was just beginning and I still love it. I don’t find myself reaching for it as often as my Brause Steno (next on the list below) lately but it is a tried and true nib. Almost everybody you talk to will probably recommend this nib to a beginner. It is extremely forgiving and really helped me teach myself the art of pressure control because you’re not going to get an “extreme” difference between your upstrokes and downstrokes. I think this nib was one of the best learning tools I had because of that and I’m not joking when I say that you would have had to pry this out of my hands in the beginning. I didn’t ever want to love another nib… but thank goodness I got over that.
Brause Steno – aka Brause Blue Pumpkin. This was actually the first nib I bought ever but for a while, I didn’t reach for it very often. Once I had really learned a lot and gotten comfortable with my Nikko G, it made me fall in love with this nib. This is a little more flexible than the Nikko G and is definitely the nib that I use most often, for projects and for practice. Now let’s talk about the downside. This nib can lay down some ink. The Postman’s Knock has a great video showing what I’m about to talk about in her blog post here. Because it lays down ink very well, you’ll need to keep that in mind when you are creating a letter where you go back through it. For example, when you are crossing a T. I recommend crossing half, stopping at the ink, picking up your nib and then finishing the cross on the other side or else you may get a little glob. Check out her video for a better description. Side note: if you’re ever in a pinch and need them ASAP, you can get a pack of three on Amazon Prime as well here. You’ll pay a bit more but it is worth it if you don’t have a calligraphy store nearby and sure beats paying for expedited shipping.
Beyond Beginner:
Brause EF 66 – This nib has a serious point and is the nib I use second most often (second only to my Brause Steno mentioned above). Now this nib has a serious downside. It is TINY. This means that it may not fit in your flange and that it doesn’t hold much ink. As long as you have a metal flange, you can adjust it to have this nib fit in there (with a little bit of force) but if you love this nib, you can order oblique holders that have flanges specifically made to fit this nib. However, it is flexible but the ink flows with no difficulty. Don’t let the downside scare you away because you will be so thankful to have this in your collection.
Hiro 40 – Ahhh, the Hiro 40. I bought this because it seriously resembled the Brause Steno and I was curious. I LOVE this nib for textured paper (from card stock to handmade). It doesn’t hold a lot of ink in my opinion but it is extremely forgiving when it comes to “gliding” so-to-speak across textured paper. Another one that I would tell everybody they need in their collection (obviously since it is on this list).
Beginner:
Winsor & Newton Gouache – When I first started, I had the hardest time with ink consistency. I finally had gouache recommended to me and it is really what helped me fall back in love with pointed-pen calligraphy. You just need a little container so you can keep it fresh and then just make sure you mix a small dollop of gouache and then a bit of water. This can take a bit of trial and error to get the right consistency but just keep practicing on a piece of scratch paper until your ink is flowing properly. Don’t forget to mix it up before each use (I personally use a toothpick).
Beyond Beginner:
Kuretake Sumi – This is my favorite ink that I can use right out of the container (I also transfer this into a small container, just my personal preference). I’ve tried a few sumi inks but this one is the winner in my eyes. It can be a bit hard to find so I always get mine from Paper and Ink Arts. It is truly no fuss and works well with every nib I own. It’s cheap enough to be able to use all the time practicing yet nice and opaque enough for me to use for projects.
Beginner:
Gouache – Just like I stated above about the black gouache trick, you can do the same to custom mix colors for your ink! For my Instagram and just for fun, I currently use a cheap set that I got from my local craft store but I’ve linked one that is very similar. However, if you’re wanting to custom mix ink for wedding envelopes or a commission piece, I’d recommend investing in quality gouache like this Winsor & Newton set here. Remember that you can use primary colors to mix an endless array of colors if you’re wanting to start with a small set like what I’ve linked.
Beyond Beginner:
Dr. PH. Martin’s Iridescent Calligraphy Colors – I’ve linked to one of their sets (this is set number 2) and it includes twelve different colors and is an absolutely awesome deal. If you’re looking to start with just one, snag Copperplate Gold. I’ll be honest when I got my first bottle, I struggled a bit with the consistency and the pressure I was using on my nib. I kept getting little blobs. That’s why I list this as a beyond beginner ink. I have now found what works for me and that is seriously wiping off the nib as I dip (both front and back). This causes me to have to re-dip my pen more often but it is what works for me. I can’t recommend them enough though because they are just SO beautiful. I keep mine in a small dinky dips container (see here) and it is great because the bottle comes with a dropper and this makes it easier for me to shake it and stir it (cause you’ll be doing that quite a bit if you’ve got a long project). Or you could transfer it into a larger container and use an ink stirrer (this is the one I have).
Ziller Inks – I only own two of these (at the time of writing this) but I think they are still worth mentioning because they are so lovely. Paper and Ink Arts carries them and they’ve got a ton of color choices. Specifically, I want to mention the pastel colors. They are so beautiful and pretty user-friendly. You may need to either thin it or thicken it based on your personal tools and preference. If you find yourself needing to thin it, transfer some into a smaller container and use a few drops of distilled water and mix. If you find yourself needing to thicken it, they actually sell a thickener specifically made for it here. Just like the inks mentioned above, you’re going to need to mix these quite often. Before I got my own ink mixer, I just used a toothpick to aggressively stir it. I wouldn’t personally recommend shaking these because you’ll get a lot of bubbles. If you’ve been searching for gorgeous pastels, look no further.
EVERYBODY:
Rhodia (blank) – Whether you’re a beginner or an expert or anything in between, I will always give you the same recommendation: Rhodia paper is a game changer. It’s the absolute best for pointed-pen. It’s the absolute best for markers. It’s just the absolute best. No more snagging or fibers in your nib. I personally buy the blank but they also have dotted and lined if you’d prefer some guidance. Pro tip: I keep all of my sheets I use and file them in a file folder in my desk labeled “paper scraps” so when I want to just go in and practice or test a ink consistency, I can use the back of an old sheet and make sure I am getting the most out of my money.
Honorable Mention:
Card stock – I’ll try and find a variety pack either on Amazon or stock up at my local craft store when they are on sale. Card stock isn’t the best for pointed-pen when you’re beginning (it can have quite a bit of snagging in my experience) but it is an easy and cheap way to spice things up on your social media feed and incorporate different colors. If you’re not a fan of the 12×12, here is a similar pack of the “regular” or letter sized. However, I’ll buy whatever is on sale and then cut it up if I need a smaller piece. Also; I do the same thing with my card stock where I file it away and make sure I use everything twice. I do this with all of my paper (that’s right, even my watercolor pieces but that’s for another blog post) and it really helps me feel less wasteful and gives me an easy place to reach and grab a piece of paper of any color for practice.
Lastly, a lot of you guys ask what I use to film my videos on Instagram so here’s a link to the phone holder I use! I use this for my Instagram videos and even use it to also film my Youtube videos. As a side note, I even use it to hold my phone when I FaceTime because I’m lazy but it is such a bonus feature that I thought it was worth mentioning.
Anyway, I hope this lengthly list and my descriptions will help you figure out where to get started or help you try some new things! I’ll do my best to continue to keep this updated as my favorites change or I find more products to add. I’m really glad I get the opportunity to share my favorites with you guys and don’t forget that you can always reach out to ask me any questions you may have (or if you want to know about something that I may not have listed here). Until next time, stay bossy y’all.
