Premier 2019: A Display Typeface for Crafters
I had just finished pouring a batch of soy wax into amber jars and was staring at a blank label template. The scent was a moody blend of cedar and vanilla, and I needed a typeface that could carry that same warmth—something with presence, a little vintage charm, and enough personality to make someone stop scrolling. I’d been testing a handful of display fonts on mockups all week, but nothing clicked. Then I loaded Premier 2019 by Chequered Ink into my design software, typed the candle name across the top of a round label, and immediately felt that little spark of “yes, that’s the one.”
This review comes from a maker’s perspective—someone who designs physical product labels, printable wall art, stickers, and shop branding. I’ve now taken Premier 2019 through its paces on everything from heat-transfer vinyl tote bag mockups to wedding invitation layouts, and I want to share how it behaves on real materials, where it shines, and where you might need a backup plan.
The Visual Personality of Premier 2019
Premier 2019 is a display font with a decorative, almost letterpress-inspired feel. It’s not a delicate script or a sterile sans serif—it carries a subtle handcrafted texture, slightly rough edges, and a distinct sense of warmth. The letterforms have a condensed, upright stance that makes them feel confident without being shouty. I’d describe the mood as modern farmhouse meets boutique editorial: it’s equally at home on a rustic wedding welcome sign as it is on a minimalist product tag.
What makes it stand out among other creative fonts is the way it balances distinction with readability. Many decorative typefaces fall apart when you use them at smaller sizes or on textured surfaces, but Premier 2019 holds its own. The spacing is generous, the counters are open, and the overall rhythm feels intentional. It’s the kind of premium font that makes a candle label look like it belongs in a high-end gift shop, not just a craft fair table.
Where Premier 2019 Shines in a Handmade Shop
After testing it across a range of product mockups, I’ve found that Premier 2019 works best when you give it a starring role. I’ve used it on:
- Product labels: Candle jars, soap boxes, and honey jars look instantly more collectible when the main name is set in this typeface. The rough texture plays nicely with kraft paper and linen textures.
- Greeting cards and invitations: Whether it’s a birthday card or a wedding suite, the font adds a personal, artisanal touch. For a wedding invitation, I paired it with a light script font for the couple’s names, and the result felt intimate and bespoke.
- Sticker sheets and planner pages: I tried it on a sheet of motivational stickers for a planner shop. The chunky, friendly letters cut cleanly on a Silhouette machine and weeded without a struggle. On printable planner pages, it gave section headers a grounded, dependable feel.
- Boutique packaging and tags: Hang tags for clothing or jewelry, belly bands for soap boxes, and small thank-you cards all benefit from the font’s ability to convey quality without needing additional embellishments.
- Printable wall art and digital downloads: I created a mockup of a farmhouse-style “Gather” sign and a set of minimalist quote prints. The font scaled beautifully to large poster sizes, and the textured edges looked intentional rather than pixelated.
- Merchandise mockups: On a tote bag and a coffee mug, Premier 2019 gave the design a sturdy, handmade feel. It’s a great choice for shop owners who want their branding to feel cohesive across physical products and listing images.
In every case, the font helped elevate the perceived value of the product. It communicates that someone took care with the details—a signal that matters deeply when you’re selling handmade goods online.
Readability and Size Considerations for Physical Products
One of the first things I do when testing a display font for craft use is check how it behaves at the small end of the scale. With Premier 2019, I’d recommend keeping it at around 12pt or larger for printed items like labels and cards. At 10pt, the textured details start to close up, and on a sticker sheet with multiple tiny elements, the font loses some of its charm. For cutting machines, I had the best results when the font was at least 0.5 inches tall. Anything smaller, and the fine rough edges can become tricky to weed cleanly, especially on intricate vinyl cuts.
On fabric, like a tote bag or t-shirt using heat-transfer vinyl, I suggest sticking to short, bold phrases. The font’s condensed width means it can fit a surprising amount of text on a narrow space, but long lines of all-caps display text can feel heavy. I tested a short quote on a tote bag mockup and it looked balanced, but a full address block on a return address stamp would be pushing it.
For digital products like printable wall art or template previews, you have more flexibility. The font renders cleanly on screens at larger sizes, and the texture adds a tactile quality that translates well to high-resolution JPGs or PDFs. I’d just avoid using it for dense paragraphs of body copy; it’s made for display use, not for reading long blocks of text.
Font Pairing Ideas for a Cohesive Brand
Because Premier 2019 has such a strong visual personality, it benefits from being paired with a more neutral supporting typeface. My go-to combination was a clean sans serif font for body text, like a geometric or humanist sans. This creates a beautiful contrast between the decorative, handcrafted headings and the crisp, readable ingredient lists or descriptions underneath. For a more editorial, high-end look, try pairing it with a simple serif font—the contrast in texture can feel very boutique magazine.
If you’re designing a wedding suite or a greeting card, a light handwritten font or a delicate script font can soften the overall mood. I used this pairing on a save-the-date card, and the combination of the sturdy display type and the flowing script felt romantic and well-balanced. For a bold, modern brand, you might even pair it with a chunky sans serif for a layered, poster-like effect—just keep the hierarchy clear so the eye knows where to land first.
When using Premier 2019 in your shop branding, think about consistency across all your design assets. If you use it on your product labels, consider bringing it into your social media graphics, Etsy banner, and packaging. This helps build instant brand identity recognition, so customers know it’s your work before they even read the shop name.
A Few Places I’d Avoid This Font
While I love the character of Premier 2019, it’s not a universal workhorse. I wouldn’t use it for tiny product ingredient lists, legal disclaimers, or any text that needs to be scanned quickly and accurately. The decorative nature works against reading speed, and on a small label, crowded information will look messy. For dense label information, switch to a simple sans serif or serif and let the display font handle the hero text.
I also wouldn’t recommend it for long-form printed content like how-to instructions, recipe cards, or journaling pages where the text is the main focus. It’s a font that loves to be the headline, not the full story. And if you’re creating a minimalist, ultra-modern brand, the rough edges might feel a bit too rustic—though that’s a style choice, not a flaw.
Technical Notes for Crafters and Sellers
Before you commit to using Premier 2019 on products you plan to sell, always check the commercial font licensing. Chequered Ink typically offers clear terms, but you’ll want to confirm that your intended use—whether it’s physical product labels, printed merchandise, digital downloads, or even SVG-style designs—is covered. Some display fonts have restrictions on embedding in templates or reselling as part of a digital product, so a quick look at the license file can save you headaches later.
Also, take a moment to explore the full character set. The font may include alternates, ligatures, or swashes that you can access through your software’s glyph panel. These extra touches can make a design feel even more custom and hand-finished. I found a few alternate characters that added a little flourish to the end of words, perfect for adding a signature touch to a logo or a product name.
Finally, if you’re designing for an international audience, check the multilingual support. I tested a few accented characters and they rendered cleanly, but it’s worth confirming if you need extended Latin or special punctuation. For most crafters, the standard set will be more than enough, but it’s always good to know before you finalize a bestselling design.
