I was looking in an old Wilton book and it had some beautiful borders that were made with a multi-coupler. They don't sell this anymore, but it was a coupler that had slots for one, two, or three tips to be attached to the piping bag at the same time. I've been looking for one and have had no luck except for one that went for $100 on e-bay---way out of my price range since this is just a hobby and I'm primarily a stay-at-home Mom of one-year-old twins.
Anyway, I was on a trip recently and the thought dawned on me that I might be able to make something with the same results. Here's my idea: Cut off the narrow end of a plastic funnel and then insert it into a 16" or 18" piping bag. Then, sew or seal up (with one of those heat sealers?) the excess fabric/vinyl/plastic at the end of the piping bag. Once that's done, I thought maybe I could cut or punch holes in the end of the bag for the couplers to fit into. Maybe use some scrapbook punches for uniform holes...
What do you all think? Has anyone tried something like this or have a better idea? Could this work?
Good idea! Would they all be straight in a row or cluster together?
The picture I saw had the two hole one with the tips side by side and the three hole one with the tips in a triangular shape so you could pipe two borders next to one another and a third on top between the bottom two.
Okay...I have my supplies out to make this contraption and I just had another idea...maybe instead of cutting holes in the bag for the couplers, cut holes in a semi-hard plastic (like the lid to a yogurt cup or the bottom of a baby bottle?) and then cut a larger hole in the bag that the funnel would fit in...
What Wilton book was this in??
If you can't figure out a way to make one, what about piping each part of the three part border individually. Start with one row, place the next row beside it, and then do the third on top.
It's in "Magic for your table...CAKE & FOOD DECORATING By Wilton".
The idea about piping around the cake three times is a good one and I've tried it, but some of the designs use more pressure and then less pressure and trying to duplicate the same pressure each time around the cake is hard for me. I haven't been doing this very long, so my hand is pretty steady on the first and second time around, but by the third, it's tired and shaky. I thought if I could duplicate it, it would save time, too, and who knows what other pretty borders are out there waiting to be discovered...
Anyway, I think I've almost figured out how best to do it. I cut holes for the couplers out of a yogurt cup lid and put that inside a funnel to add some stability and that seemed like it would work. Then my husband suggested I just use the bottom of the yogurt cup, instead, then I wouldn't need the funnel--I could just stick that in a piping bag...so I'm cutting holes in the bottom of a yogurt cup right now...I'll let everyone know how it turns out...
For anyone who's curious, the yogurt cup idea is going to work. I'm just trying to figure out the spacing. If you get the holes too close together, the middle tears---too far apart and, well, they're too far apart--I'm trying to see exactly how close I can get them without the middle tearing...I'm almost out of yogurt containers, so I may have to continue this later...
Yes, I will definitely post a picture once I get the spacing correct. I have to go get more yogurt containers, though, because the ones I have left at my house aren't flat on the bottom and I don't think I can cut an accurate circle in those.
Does anyone have a link to what the original coupler looked like?
100 bucks on ebay!!!
Sheesh - for that price it better mix the icing, fill the bag, pipe the borders and clean itself.
LOL
I did it!!!! I made a multi-coupler out of a 50 cent yogurt cup and three regular couplers!!! Yeah! I am so excited!!
I'm going to take a picture and try to load it, but I probably won't get it posted until tomorrow because my dial up internet doesn't usually like to post pictures...but maybe I'll be lucky tonight...maybe...
I couldn't get the picture to upload into this post, so it's in my photos (with the directions for how to make it).
Hopefully, I'll get a chance to experiment with some borders tomorrow and post some pics for anyone who's interested.
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