calligraphy?
Posted in calligraphy tips by: adminmy boyfriend had bought me a beautiful, expensive calligraphy set a few years ago. I haven't used it because I can't figure out how to get the nib to stay on the pen (it's a feather type). The brand is Stuart Houghton Ltd.
I actually lost one of the nibs in an ink well because I thought I had it on, but it just fell in. Also, how do you get the ink into the pen? do you have to keep dipping every time you write something?
If someone has a website or tips they can recommend that would be great. (I learned how to write calligraphy using various pens with 'calligraphy' stype tips)
If it is a dip pen, yes you will have to keep dipping it as it runs out of ink. Getting a clean dip is a matter of practice, but the basics are to only dip the nib into the ink until it reaches the end of the slit, not all the way in. There is usually a small hole at the end of the slit to act as a resevoir for the ink. I have the habit of drawing the nib across the edge of the bottle as I pull it out, to shed some extra ink back into the bottle and help with drips.
So far as the nib falling off the quill (I am assuming a quill since you mentioned a feather) if the nibs are a sleeve type, meaning they have a band to go on the outside of the quill, you may need to (carefully!) use a small pair of pliers to compress the band and make it smaller for a tighter fit. It sounds like they are too loose.
An alternative woud be to cut the quill back to have the end be a larger diameter, but I would not recommend that unless you really know how to cut a quill, as cutting is irreversable, while compressing the band can be fixed if you overdo it.
I don't recommend wrapping tape around the quill, as the ink will work it's way into it, and the glue on tape will eventually make a gooey mess and ruin your quill.
A google search of the term "calligraphy" will give you tons of sites and examples. There are even pages on illuminating manuscripts 
January 19th, 2008 at 6:32 am
If it is a dip pen, yes you will have to keep dipping it as it runs out of ink. Getting a clean dip is a matter of practice, but the basics are to only dip the nib into the ink until it reaches the end of the slit, not all the way in. There is usually a small hole at the end of the slit to act as a resevoir for the ink. I have the habit of drawing the nib across the edge of the bottle as I pull it out, to shed some extra ink back into the bottle and help with drips.
So far as the nib falling off the quill (I am assuming a quill since you mentioned a feather) if the nibs are a sleeve type, meaning they have a band to go on the outside of the quill, you may need to (carefully!) use a small pair of pliers to compress the band and make it smaller for a tighter fit. It sounds like they are too loose.
An alternative woud be to cut the quill back to have the end be a larger diameter, but I would not recommend that unless you really know how to cut a quill, as cutting is irreversable, while compressing the band can be fixed if you overdo it.
I don't recommend wrapping tape around the quill, as the ink will work it's way into it, and the glue on tape will eventually make a gooey mess and ruin your quill.
A google search of the term "calligraphy" will give you tons of sites and examples. There are even pages on illuminating manuscripts
References :
January 19th, 2008 at 8:00 am
You can get a very basic book on calligraphy from either the library or a bookshop with illustrations. Your set should have come with instructions and pictures. My dip pens have a slip-on reservoir and I load a brush with ink and push that between the nib and the reservoir. I was told never to dip the pen, and I wish I could show you in person. You should be able, once you have sorted out the nib situation, be able to write a number of words with one loading of the nib. Remember to rinse it after use and dry it well.
References :
Calligrapher to professional standards for 20 years+