Hello everyone. I am new to this web site, and love it. I have really enjoyed looking at everone's wonderful cake creations.
I am taking the Wilton Course 1 class. I was practicing, doing my "homework" for my class to make the rainbow cake, and my hand was so sore and cramped while I was squeezing the bag. I almost couldn't squeeze the icing out.
I do a lot of hand sewing, and this doesn't happen then. Are there any tips on how to keep this from happening. I was thinking maybe one of those gloves, but didn't know if they really worked or not.
Thanks
I am guessing you were doing the stars? I guess my first suggesitons would be Don't do stars! LOL They always make my hand tired fast!
There may be a few other things to consider though
The other thing I would recommend is make sure you are not over filling your bag. The amount in the bag will depend on each person. For me I usually fill one of the disposable bags about 1/3 - 1/2 full. I do have to refil more often but not having a lot in there helps keep my hand from having to work so hard.
Also if you are not filling very full, what is the consistancy of your icing? If it is to stiff for you to squeeze you may need to thin it out a little bit.
Hope this helps.
Leily
I agree - your icing may be too thick - thin it out a bit and it should help and filling it not so full. I hate refilling bags - it's messy, but here is a tip I will pass on. I just started doing this and I LOVE IT! (I just posted this somewere else too.)
Take a piece of plastic wrap about 12 inches long and put it on the table. Then, blob your icing onto the plastic wrap. Roll it up in a log and then shape it like a cone. Close the top and then drop it into your bag. Now, icing will not get everywhere and refilling is a breeze. It also cuts down on cleaning.
This is the best tip I have ever gotten from this site and as a newbe - you may like it.
Welcome to cc and enjoy your class. Getting a hand massage would also be helpful - if you've got kids you could bribe them. A freshly decorated cake for a hand massage....
I wear gloves. Got them at Walgreens. Don't remember what they are called.
Love your idea of filling bags SLK. Here's my tip.... I have such a mess as I cannot hold the bag and get the icing into the bag with out making a mess. So I have a heavy glass drinking glass. I put the bag into the glass fold the edge of the disposable bag over the glass and fill my bag....No Mess!!!
I agree with the not filling the bag too full. I had that problem when I first started decorating, my hand got so sore. But putting less icing in the bag fixed it. And I use the glass method when filling bags, standing it up in a glass. It's kind of a pain filling the bag more often, but not a physical pain..... it got rid of that! LOL
I've never tried the gloves.
Thank you to everyone for the tips on keeping the hand fatique down. I think the problem was my icing was too stiff, and the bag was too full. Once I had it colored and at the right consistancy I didn't have any problems. I had my class tonight and no soreness at all. I am posting a picture of my cake. I need to work on the writing, but other than that, I think I did pretty good with the gazzillion stars!
I agree with the other posters saying that the easiest way to get rid of the hand fatigue is to make sure the icing isn't too thick. Also, using the glass to hold the bag to fill it makes it soo much easier.
I tried the wrist brace, but it made it too hard to hold and squeeze the bag.
Hiya costumelady and welcome to Cake Central.
The lady who taught me to decorate has RA and she still decorates like a crazy woman. Her trick is to take just enough frosting in the bottom of the bag to fit in your hand. Bout the size of a golfball.
That way it's easier to squeeze and you don't have a huge wad of frosting you are trying to squeeze through the bag.
I also support the back part of the bag with my other hand or if it's not too full I rest it on the back or my forearm. I don't know if this will help but I haven't had any probs with my hands doing it this way and I decorate a lot of cakes.
Your cake looks so nice! Great job and welcome to CC!!!
Her trick is to take just enough frosting in the bottom of the bag to fit in your hand. Bout the size of a golfball.
That way it's easier to squeeze and you don't have a huge wad of frosting you are trying to squeeze through the bag.
I also support the back part of the bag with my other hand or if it's not too full I rest it on the back or my forearm. I don't know if this will help but I haven't had any probs with my hands doing it this way and I decorate a lot of cakes.
I do this too and it helps!
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