I still think it is an impression mat or rolling pin. Look at the regular basketweave cakes and then this one! They are calling it a NEW wicker weave design. I think it is a new design and we just need to find out who carries the pattern mat. Could be wrong, but it is sooo perfect! Beautiful too!

I am inbetween on opinions..I have seen it described as a wicker basket weave technique but have not found a lot of other pics or instructions, maybe this will help you all. I will keep searching. I want to know so badly!

Here is a cake that I think looks something like it on the side. Just want to help!

http://www.myrajeanscakes.com/basketofflowers.gif

Well, ya'll I was looking some more on the internet on this "Alfred Hitchcock" cake and I think I found how to do it or at least a better picture of something like it.

http://www.bakelady.com/gallery/Detail-29_Martha_Stewarts_Basket-jpg.html

It looks like the same thing but imagine the lines going horizontally.

Is this the one?

I think I have the MS magazine that shows this cake... I have a lot of my cake books stored in the garage right now. I'm thinking this cake was done in buttercream and they used a tool like a pallette knife to create the basketweave... I remember thinking how how it would be to get all the indentations even on the cake... It was a beautiful cake!!

I took a quick look in the garage and couldn't find the magazine... I'm pretty sure that's how it was done, but I could be wrong.

I just emailed sugarcraft to see if they could help out figuring this out. I will let ya know what they find.

Yes, I was right.. I found a post on another board and someone had the directions...It is buttercream and a tool like a palette knife was used!! They didn't have the instructions posted on the board, she just said she had them.

Here's another picture...I'm not sure if it's going to be any better than the rest...

Can you PM her and ask for directions?? That would be AWESOME!

i found something on martha's website that might help - it says she uses with a large leaf tip (Ateco #115) to make the basketweave. could that be it?

http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=recipe2874&contentGroup=MSL&site=living

and here is the pdf page with complete directions for the fall basketweave cake:

http://www.marthastewart.com/static_html/dvd/weddings/AutumnFruitBasketCake.pdf;jsessionid=B41HITHJ2UBJPWCKUUXCJBWYJKSS0JO0

ddjfields posted this question on another forum and another decorator (Sewsweet2) gave us these directions -

Using the slanted tip of a basic paring knife and a smoothed, iced cake Hold the paring knife horizontally, with back of knife exactly level, and steady the knife hand with the opposite hand; press flat of knife, from the tip to a short distance up the blade, into buttercream and remove in a sweeping motion to create a triangle. Continue the pattern, creating a column that travels straight down the side of the tier. To keep the column exactly vertical, use extra care and brace elbow on the countertop. Repeat the process, column by column, around the entire cake. Leave the top of the cake smooth.

So, thank you ddjfields for asking them, I hadn't thought to do that. So, now we finally have an answer!

She said that she knows Rama Sohl from KC does that work. I'm guessing that's where her instructions come from.

Actually, she posted the instructions but couldn't remember who she got them from. HTH

Thank you...Thank you....Thank you!!!!!!! and every other happy face Emoticon I can find!!!!!!

Ok, I love this woman's cakes! Do you think she uses buttercream or fondant? Don't you all love the sea shell cakes with the real fish in the pillars? Anyone know how this is done? I live at the beach & would love to offer these! Helen

I must be dumb cause I don't get it can someone do it and take lots of during pictures for me or hey how about a video it would be even better..........lol

That sounds back breaking, maybe I will try on a 6 inch. Oh, I am ddjfields on the other site. Glad I could help out. I am soooo glad that someone had the instructions. It was driving be batty!

THANK YOU ddjfields and KittiKakes for solving this puzzle! Sounds time consuming, but a nice effect!

Here's the complete directions... Oooops... These are the same directions someone posted earlier.. I spent too much time writing it..I'll just leave it..LOL!!

Place a chilled crumb-coated cake tier on a pedestal turntable. Apply a generous layer of buttercream, and use a metal scraper or spatula to smooth the top and sides of cake, hold the scraper level while spinning turtable. Hold a paring knife horiontally, with back of knife exactly level,, and steady knife hand with opposite hand; press flat of knife from the tip to a short distance up the blade into the buttercream and remove in a sweeeping motion to reate a triangle. Continue the pattern, creating a colunm that travels straight down the side of the tier. To keep the colunm exactly vertical, use extra care and brace elbow on the countertop. Repeat the process, colomn by column, around the entire tier, repeat on remaining tiers. leave the top of the cake smooth. referigerate the finished tiers until you are ready to stack them.

Good Luck Kitti!! I'm sure that you'll do an excellent job. I love how your not afraid to do something totally new! I can't wait to see!

Alrighty boys and girls! I gave it a try. Now remember, this was my first try, so ya'll be nice!!

I actually iced the cake yesterday and didn't get to it until today. So, the icing had crusted over real well and was not chilled. DH didn't know I was gonna practice on it, so there's a piece missing, just less space to work with. It wasn't as tall as I would have liked, but I think it was enough.

The first pic is laying the knife on the side. You can see a gouge in the left corner of the pic. That was my first try and the BC stuck to the knife. So, I got a cup of hot water and I dipped the knife and then dried it before putting it on the cake. That helped alot!!

The second pic, well I was trying to show the knife in a "sweeping" motion. I did start at the top and worked my way down to make a column. So, don't let the pic fool ya since you already see a whole column there. I had forgotten to take the pic when I first started the column. I also moved the knife when I snapped the pic, so it messed up the icing a little.

The last pic is the finished "basketweave". I didn't put a border or anything since DH had already started into it. But ya'll get the idea!

So, anyway, this technique is possible for us amateurs!! It definitely takes a bit of patience and practice!!! I have a bday cake to do for Tuesday, so I'll try it on that cake and get a finished design. So, ya'll have fun trying it!!!

yeah KittisKakes!!!!

excellent job of figuring it out and showing us all how.


(tho' -- "a piece"??? more like a big chunk!)

KittiKakes you are GOOD!!!!!

Kittiskakes- Those are great pictures! Thank you so much for taking the time. I was having trouble visualizing the instructions, but your pics made it crystal clear.

That is definetly buttercreme...
I hope we get the instructions soon...
Seems like alot of work if you have to use a knife or pallet of some kind..
Oh welll...can't wait to see how it's done.

I'm going to try this one... That's gorgeous...