Wilton Decorating Class 1 Question
Decorating By ashlymomx2 Updated 25 Jun 2006 , 4:27pm by paxpuella
I am a newbie. And I am starting my first Wilton decorating 1 class in 2 weeks. I was wondering if anyone had any tips or suggestions? Also, the girl that helped didn't seem to know much about the class. Besides the class kit, is there anything else I need to bring to the first session. Thanks.
Welcome to decorating! I'm still taking the Wilton classes, but let me be one of the first to tell you... it is ADDICTING! Our instructor took us to the baking aisle during the first class and told us what other decorating tools we might like. One of the best purchases I made that night was the turntable. I HIGHLY recommend it. Have FUN!
The best things I waould say would be a good bag to carry all your things in, baggies for the dirty tips and baby wipes. Enjoy!!! I just looked back at my class 1 cake the other day and I was amazed how much I improved since then and it was less then a year ago. Be patient and don't be too hard on yourself if it isn't perfect the first time!
GOOD LUCK!!!!!
Usually you don't have to bring anything with you to the first class. Your Wilton instructor will advise you on what to get. One thing that was very helpful for me was purchasing several small and medium sized glad containers for my icing and mixing my colors at home. This saved a lot of time. There was a lady in my class who always mixed her colors in class, by the time she was ready to start, the rest of us were almost done. I really enjoyed my Wilton classes....I hope you do too! Have fun!
You'll love the class. You don't bring anything to the first class. I would recommend bringing a small notebook and pen though. I brought one to each class to take notes. Yes, mix all of your frosting in advance so you can get started on decorating! Have fun!
Get something to carry everything in!!! You WILL be bringing cakes to class - on top of carrying your tips, book, and other supplies - you have to carry the cake!!! I have a rolling box-type thing that I think is supposed to be used for tools but I use it for cake stuff! Even with this, I've had to add bags and other stuff.
Also, a good idea is to "tear" your book apart and put the papers into those plastic protector things and put it in a binder - this keeps things from getting sticky & covered in greasy icing!! Also, laminate your practice sheets - a Staples or Office Depot can do this and it's cheap!
Do not buy the wilton colors. Instead, get the americolors. I wish I hadn't bought mine because now I'm trying to convert to Americolor and have bunch of almost unused wilton colors I don't know what to do. The turning table is a great buy, the $8.99 is fine to start with. Instead of spending money on spatulas, get one of those things you use to put spackle on the wall (sorry, English is not my first language and I can't think of the word right now). I got the empty caddy ($19.99). I know that the big one comes with a lot of things included but remember, many of those things will also come with the Student kits. I would say, take notes on the things you want to buy and then wait until you have a 40% off coupon. Michaels takes Joann's coupons too so you could use both for the most expensive items. Their cake carrier is also a good investment. Above all, remember, the instructore takes you to the baking isle to sell you the wilton products and so that Michaels can have a profit but be smart about it and HAVE FUN!
Inma
our insstructor taught us to make icing plugs, and I would highly recommend it! You put 1/4 to 1/2 a cup of your colored icing on a sheet of syran wrap. roll the syran around the icing until it is fully covered. Take the left over ends of the syran and twist the icing between your fingers so that it is tight (like you are wrapping a candy). fold the ends over themselves and store in a zip lock bag. when it is time to fill your decorating bag just cut one end off your plug and shove it in. It makes refilling SO easy. When that plug is gone, just pull out the empty syran and put in a new plug. No more messy refills.
I bought the empty caddy and LOVE it. Although I agree, I love the americolors better than wilton but hey, I still use my wilton colors. I won't throw them out. I just won't buy wilton colors when I run out! I found my wilton colors dried out - but if you add glycerine, they come back...if you decide to go with wilton.
Buy lots of featherweight bags. I love the 16" bags. I also found that disposable plastics in a size 12 are nice too. Especially when it comes to royal. Parchment is okay, but I find plastic easier to work with.
I agree with the laminating your book pages. I STILL have my wilton class books and I do reference them every now and then when I forget something. Mine aren't laminated but they have grease staines...and crusted royal here and there.
I love the tipsaver bags they have. The mesh ones? I keep my couplers in there and the tips I don't use often. Also love the actual "tipsaver" that you put in the tip and it straightens out bent edges or what not. Saved many a tip I stepped on!
GThe only thing you need on the first night is a pen and small notebook. The instructor will go ever thing that you will need in class as well as show you how to make the class frosting. The last 30 minutes of class, you will be taken to the Wilton aisle where your instructor will show you what products will be needed for class as well as what is recommended. I do agree you do need to have a bag or tote to carry your things to the remainder of the classes - I myself purchased a sewing tote on wheels. All I can recommend is lots of plastic bags, a couple of empty containers, bottled water (the sinks aren't always clean), extra couplers and disposable decorating bags are good to have as well as extra tips in case you want to use your tip with more than 1 color and don't want to have a chance of mixing colors. Don't forget about the 40% off coupon, but also keep in mind most places give 10% off on items you will purchase for class during the 4 weeks class is going on. Oh, it is always good to have a Wilton tub of icing on hand too - just in case you did not make enough - or did not have the time to make frosting. Hope that helps.
always be ready for class with your bags filled before you arrived. there are times when the student book says to
' come with your icing in containers,do not fill your bags at home"I learned to tell my students to do it anyway,to save class time. unless you have never used the bags and need help,then do it in class.bring plastic bags for the mess you'll make! if you forget,the customer service desk is happy to dish some out!wetnaps or damp towel also...in my room the sink has no hot water(barely even warm 
)and the papertowel dispencer is broken!also if you do not have something like maybe you lost atip or forgot your bags,ask the instructor because there is supplies kept in the closet 
do not get discouraged,there can be the littlest thing your doing wrong and when you figure it out it makes a world of differance.I have actually had students befor who litterally are crying because they insist they'll never get.have patience and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
I am in the Wilton class 1 now. Only one more session to go before I move on to Wilton class 2, and I LOVE it! It is so much fun and so interesting.
You won't need anything other than a pen and paper to write notes and supplies down the first night, and as said above, the teacher will take you out into the store to show you supplies you can purchase before the next class.
Something I learned, get extra couplers! It seems like I never have enough. Something else I learned from this site is to go to Walmart and buy Viva brand paper towels to smooth your cakes after they have 'crusted' for 15 - 30 minutes or so. This will let you have smooth iced cakes to decorate, and you will be the envy of your classmates wondering how you did it!
I bought the 49.99 class 1 caddy, and it had everything I needed (other than extra couplers!) in it. It seemed like everyone who didn't buy it had to keep purchasing tips or other stuff. Just my thought on that....
Purchase the laminating sheets and laminate your whole book. Mine has crisco stains and coloring stains on it, and I've only had it for 3 weeks now! It will be worth it.
I also use napkins to wipe my spatula off with, bring a empty cup to put your bag you are trying to fill with icing in, bring several gallon size zip lock bags to put your trash in (our room doesn't have a trash bin and the sink only has cold water). Bring an old towel to put down on your workspace so you don't get icing all over the table. You can just roll it back up at the end of the night.
You will do great! Just practice as much as you can, refer to your book and this site, and enjoy!
Thanks everyone for all of your tips. I am nervous about my first class but also excited. What kind of frosting will we use? I have only ever used store bought kind. Is there a recipe for it? Don't laugh.... i'm a newbie.
One more QUESTION... do I have to buy the class book or do they provide that?
Your Instructor will use the Wilton Buttercream Frosting recipe. You will recieve your book the first night of class. You will also need an apron once you start practicing. My Daughter and I went to our 3rd class Wed. and it has been great. Don't forget to ask questions. Enjoy!
My suggestion is not to buy the canned icing, make your own. Some came every class with 4 cans of Wilton icing only to complain it was too soft and melted in her hand. You will need stiff, medium and thin. Make your icing in advance and have lots of 8oz. containers to transport all your pre-maid, pre-mixed colors to class! If you plan on buying the disposable bags don't forget your scissors! Also, get extra tips and couplers, mine always seem to end up in the garbage disposal!
Have fun!
Tracy
I already purchased my class kit and there was no book in there. Does the teacher give you that or do I need to take my kit back?
When I took the classes at JoAnn we had to purchase the book, however, at Hobby Lobby and Michaels the book was given to us at the first class.
If you don't have a lot of decorating stuff right now and you think you'll stay with it, use one of those 40% off coupons and get the 101 piece kit. If you use the coupon it is an incredible bargain for everything you get. You get a good sampling of tips, spatuals, the big icing tip and some featherweight bags. It has the small cake leveler which is great for smaller cakes. It has all the colors you need to start off with and two large bottles of the clear vanilla and butter flavor. There are some other things in there too. All in all a good deal if you plan on sticking with this.
One other tip - on the 2-4 classes before you go into the store, get a shopping cart to carry all your stuff in. I learned to do that after my 2nd class when I was trying to balance everything on my way in. I saw someone else with a cart and though DUH. Hope you have a good instructor, it will be lots of fun.
Thank again for info about the book. I am going to attach a picture of a practice cake I made for my son's first b-day. I bought the figurines of Buzz Lightyear and tried to copy the cake from a picture that came with the figurines. NOW you will see why I need to take this class. By the way, his birthday is on Saturday so I will need to be making the real thing. After looking at the picture, if anyone has ANY tips at all, I would really appreciate it. Too bad I didn't start the Wilton class before his b-day. 
Enjoy your course 1 classes. As an instructor myself - I'd advise you NOT to pre-fill your bags at home until you are very confident in your icing consistencies (Stiff, Med., and Thin). Your instructor will pass around containers of the different consistencies the first night of class for you to look at and feel the difference. If you pre-fill your bags for the second class and they are not correct (your instructor will want to check the consistencies at the beginning of class 2) you will be in quite a jam having to unload, correct, and re-fill the bags. 
My advise is to bring extra confectionary sugar in a small zip lock bag for class 2 in case you need to thicken up your icings - It's your first night using the icings and it's important that they are right. The second thing that is very important is to get your instructors phone number. You may have important questions during the week when your making your own icing and icing your first cake for class 2. No question is a silly question. The first night you will get a demonstration on how to ice a cake. Your going to have a lot of fun. Be on time to class and check that you have everything needed for each nights class before you leave for class (there's a list at the end of each chapter as to what will be needed for the next weeks class. Enjoy it! Oh - take pictures of each of your cakes. It's really nice to look back and see the difference and progress you've made. Have fun 
Well I did it too. I went last night to Michael's and signed up for their course 1. I took a competitor's coupon from Joann's for the 40% off and bought some of those baking strips for the 8" & 9" pans. I had to keep myself from buying more stuff, lol. I'm glad I went last night, there was another lady in the decorating aisle and by the time I got done looking at everything they had, she was at the counter too. She was asking questions about the classes and such and the lady at the counter told her there is a 12 person limit and she pointed to me and said "she is the 11th person to sign up." I don't think she did sign up though.
I looked at the 101 piece kit and it was $129. I didn't want to spend that much money yet, even with the 40% coupon. Can someone tell me where they sell Americolor colors at, or do you have to order them online?
Thanks
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