Harlequin Pattern On Topsy Turvy???
Decorating By SweetPea0613 Updated 15 Feb 2009 , 7:40pm by SweetPea0613
How do you make a harlequin pattern on a topsy turvy cake like this cake here??
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1205552
I know that it's easy on a regular round or square cake cuz you can just use a template to cut out the diamonds....but would you do the same for this style of cake???
Any answers will help...
TIA
It looks pretty straightforward to me, and I hope I'm sorta-kinda right because I'm actually doing this one on Sunday.
It looks like the lower row of diamonds were attached first, all lined up with the bottom of the cake. Looks like after that, the same sized diamonds were attached right above the points of the previous row. As the cake got more narrow, the excess diamond was folded over the top.
That was always the vision I had anyway for doing it myself..
Maybe I'm missing something but I think it actually looks pretty easy...
I've done a few TT with the harlequin pattern. I start the first row on the edge of the cake and work down - you can see the pic in my photos. I first start by taking a circumference measurement of the top edge, then dividing that by the number of diamonds you want to use. Then I make a cardboard template for this size, cut them out and apply. Then you take another circumference measurement at the tip of that row of diamonds and make another template for the next row - if you're working down from the top edge on a tapered TT then these diamonds will be narrower. You can make this row slightly shorter to keep them the same ratio of width to height. Also, make the diamonds slightly smaller than what you think you need as it is easier to have a tiny gap between them then to deal with overlapping points.
There is inevitably some trimming to do to make it all work, but with a topsy the whimsical look is forgiving! I'm interested to hear how everyone else does it too.
HTH
You need to hunt Doug down. I'm pretty sure he can come up with a template in like 2.5 seconds....good luck.
Are you asking about the swirl pattern on the top tier?
Did you pm Kory? She is a regular on here and I'm sure will help you. Just remember today is a *very!* busy day for most decorators!
Thanks for all your tips guys! I don't have to do this cake til next weekend but I wanted to ask ahead of time...
Hopefully it comes out okay...since it'll be my first topsy turvy
Almost every single topsy turvy I've done has had this pattern on it. I used a diamond cookie cutter that I made myself very easily, it's a pretty easy shape to come by lol even if you just cut and reshape a square cutter. Then I just cut them out with the cookie cutter. On the couple of cakes where the diamonds didn't end up perfect in the "BACK" of the cake (you know every cake has a back lol) I just hand cut the last 3 diamonds or so in each row so that they would all fit and they were just barely smaller than a normal diamond (most times 2 would fit and then there would be enough room for 1/2 a diamond) and nobody has EVER noticed!
Good Luck and have fun!! It really LOOKs more complicated than it is!
Thank you for your expertise KHalstead!!!
Those cakes are gorgeous!! Hopefully mine will be half as good!
SweetPea: I didn't even notice your location. Have we talked before?
Hmmmm I don't think we talked before...
How cool that we're in the same city!!! I never noticed either
SweetPea: I didn't even notice your location. Have we talked before?
Hmmmm I don't think we talked before...
How cool that we're in the same city!!! I never noticed either
I REMEMBER!!
I left a comment on one of your pictures...
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%