Unlock the Art of Cursive Love: A Simple Guide to Writing "I Love You" Beautifully

Expressing your love through handwritten words carries a depth and sincerity that digital messages often miss. And when it comes to romance, cursive writing adds an extra touch of elegance and personal flair. If you’ve ever wanted to pen a heartfelt “I love you” in flowing cursive but felt intimidated, you’re in the right place. This guide will break down the process, showing you how to write “I love you” in cursive with ease and style, even if you’re a complete beginner.

cursive love letters before and after

Why Choose Cursive to Say “I Love You”?

Cursive isn’t just a way of writing; it’s an art form that evokes feelings of nostalgia, intimacy, and care. Unlike printed text, cursive has a personal touch, as each stroke reflects the writer’s unique hand. When you write “I love you” in cursive, you’re not just conveying words; you’re sharing a piece of yourself. The flowing, connected letters symbolize the enduring and intertwined nature of love itself. It’s perfect for:

Love letters: Adding a classic romantic touch.
Greeting cards: Making your message more personal and heartfelt.
Gifts: Personalizing handmade gifts with a loving message.
Decor: Creating beautiful, love-themed art for your home.

Simple Steps to Cursive “Love” – The Foundation

Let’s start with the word “love,” as it’s the heart of “I love you.” We’ll use a simple technique of transforming basic block letters into cursive. You don’t need fancy calligraphy skills for this!

Write “love” in basic print letters. Space them out a little more than usual. This will be your guide.

2 ways to write the word love
Thicken the Downward Strokes. In cursive, downward strokes are typically thicker, giving it that elegant look. Identify the vertical and downward slanted lines in your “l,” “o,” “v,” and “e.” Go over these lines again, adding a bit of thickness. For example, the left side of the “o,” the first stroke of the “v,” and the vertical part of the “e.”
Connect the Letters with Curves and Loops. This is where the magic happens! Cursive letters flow into each other.
- l to o: Extend the tail of the “l” into a curve that smoothly transitions into the “o.” Imagine the “l” reaching out and gently hugging the “o.”
- o to v: Continue the curve from the “o” into the upward stroke of the “v.” Make this connection fluid, almost like a wave.
- v to e: From the downward stroke of the “v,” create a small loop or curve that leads into the “e.” The “v” should naturally flow into starting the “e.”
Refine and Style. Look at your cursive “love.” You can now refine the curves, adjust the thickness, and add small flourishes to make it your own. Perhaps add a slight loop to the top of the “l” or curve the tail of the “e” a bit more dramatically.

take basic love lettters and turn it into a cursive love

Taking it Further: Writing “I Love You” in Cursive

Now that you’ve mastered “love,” let’s expand to “I love you.” The same principles apply!

Write “I love you” in basic print, spacing the words slightly apart.
Cursive “I”: A cursive “I” often has a loop at the top and a flowing tail. Connect the tail of the “I” to the “l” of “love.”
Cursive “you”: Write “you” in basic print and then apply the cursive techniques:
- o to u: Connect the “o” from “love” to the “y” of “you” with a curve.
- o to u: smoothly transition from the “o” to “u”.
- u to tail of “y”: Connect the “u” to the downward stroke of the “y.”
Stylize “I Love You”: Just like with “love,” refine the connections and letterforms to create a beautiful cursive “I love you.” You can add hearts or decorative swirls to emphasize the loving message!

how to write stylish handwriting from basic letters 2 ways

Supplies for Your Cursive Journey

You don’t need special supplies to start practicing. Here are a few suggestions:

Pens: Ballpoint pens, gel pens, or even markers work great. For a more elegant look, try brush pens or calligraphy pens later on.
Paper: Any paper will do for practice. Lined paper can be helpful for keeping your letters consistent in size. For finished pieces, consider using cardstock or decorative paper.

Practice Makes Perfect (and Personal!)

The key to beautiful cursive is practice. Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts aren’t perfect. Keep practicing the individual letters and the connections. The more you write, the more natural and fluid your cursive “I love you” will become. And remember, even with slight imperfections, your handwritten cursive “I love you” will be a unique and cherished expression of your feelings.

Metallic love dangle designs