So, I know I can use a ruler and mark this design out with a toothpick and then just pipe the dots on.  With my unsteady hands that will take me forever!  Does anyone have any ideas that would be faster?  I'm doing this cake in buttercream, not fondant.

Thank you!
C~

Is there a picture or a link?

Ahttp://www.cakecentral.com/g/i/3054537/round-wedding-cakes/

Oops A pic of the cake would be a good idea!

If you have some adding machine paper, I would wrap it around the cake and cut it to size.  Then just keep folding it in half until you get the size of the swag you want.  Then you cut the top of the paper to make a swag.  Then you unfold it and wrap it around the cake and you will have a template to follow to either make tiny holes to pipe over or just start piping with the template on the cake (for me, I would make tiny holes, remove the template and then pipe over the holes).  Hope this makes sense.  

kkmcmahan

Perfect!  Thank you!

C~

AWhen making your template remember that pi is equally divisible by all diameters. So you can make I template to use all tiers no matter the size and the swags will line up around the cake perfectly.

AI have one of these which is really handy for doing that design.

http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=2C61B096-1E0B-C910-EAE02E9BA668ADD2&killnav=1

I cut a circle of baking paper the Sie of the largest tier. Then fold the circle into sectors- however many divisions you need. Then I put the circle on top of the cake, and use the marker to go around the cake, pushing a small indent into the icing where the lines on the paper indicate they should go.

The paper can then be cut smaller for the smaller tiers and you have the swags will line up exactly. The marker ensures your swags are all at the same height.