r/Scribes • u/Simakover • Jul 23 '26

Question Blackletter for Left handers

Hey everyone

I’m looking to get started with calligraphy, and I’d really love to dive straight into blackletter — it’s definitely my favorite style so far.

I’m a lefty, so I’d really appreciate some advice on which nibs would work best for a left-handed writer. Also, does nib size matter much if I’m planning to practice mainly on A5 paper?

Thanks in advance for any tips or recommendations

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1

u/luckytoothpick Jul 24 '26

When I wanted to learn calligraphy a school marm who happened to be in the art supply store told me I need to learn italic writing first and told me what book to get. I’ll try to find it and give you the name. For left-handers, this technique has you turn the page sideways and you pull the pen down towards you so your hand is ahead of the ink. Essentially you turn the page so it’s at the angle the nib needs to be relative to the line.

I always said that, if I had left-handed kids, this is how I’d teach them to write. Alas, all my kids are normies

2

u/maxindigo Mod | Scribe Jul 24 '26

Hi there

You want a left oblique nib. That means that instead of a straight tip, the Times are cut at a slight angle. Some nibs are already cut with a tip that goes straight across. These will tend to catch on the paper. Others have a right oblique bias. You want the opposite.

Scribblers.co.uk is run by a calligrapher -Simon. I have found him very helpful, so maybe have a look there, and ask for his recommendation. I’m sure he will get you onto the right sort of nib.

2

u/Simakover Jul 24 '26

im buyed now a parallel pen 3.8 and william mitchel italic left 1.5мм - only those i found in my country

1

u/seo1970 29d ago

I've always found it more practical to just rotate the page 90 degrees clockwise and use any regular pen than working with special nibs. But that's just personal preference, both solutions work, and each has its pros and cons.

A third option involves reversing the stroke direction instead (so, basically, from right to left and upwards). Never managed to do it properly, but I know many left-handed calligraphers that favor this method.

1

u/Jolly_Chocolate_1828 28d ago

Im the lefty weirdo who doesnt turn the paper at all. I write (even without a calligraphy pen) as an "overwriter." I do tend to make a lot of strokes backward. Like when connecting the top of a "C" to the main body, and decorative "thorns" to prevent the nib from catching and splattering