I am trying to teach myself how to make swags and drapes - i understand the technique behind making swags using dowels, but i'm not sure about the drapes. Do you simply put the fondant on the cake and free hand form the drape, or do you fold the drape then apply to the cake? Any advice would be great. Tfl.

I lay strips out over 4 or 5 skewers that are about 1/2 (or closer) an inch apart. Push gently down to make the fondant form to the skewers, then take more skewers and lay them in those impressions, and gently push some more, bring the skewers together as close as they will go. Pull out the skewers you first put down, pinch one of the ends and gently hold it all together. Figure out how long you need it, and make your adjustments. Hope that made sense.

Bump bump!!

I'm not sure what you mean by drape if you don't do it the same way as swags, i.e. with dowels? Put a picture up so we can see what you mean!