Fondant Modeling/effect Problem...

Decorating By Starkie Updated 29 Jun 2007 , 11:16pm by Doug

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Starkie Posted 29 Jun 2007 , 1:26pm
post #1 of 9

I'm trying to make the wedding cake look like the bride's dress (per the bride's request). In my original sketches to her (before I saw the actual dress), the bodice was straight, no gathers at all. She really liked the sketch, but after seeing her dress, I wonder if she will be unhappy that it is not exactly like the bodice on her dress. So, can anyone give me an idea of a good way to make the gathers that you see in the dress below?

BTW, it's a round 14-12-10-8-6-6, sculpted from the 8" to angle smoothly all the way down.

TIA!!!
LL

8 replies
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sugarbakerqueen Posted 29 Jun 2007 , 1:44pm
post #2 of 9

I have seen this done in fondant. They drape it and bunch it. Wish I could help more with a link....hello Doug??

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sugarbakerqueen Posted 29 Jun 2007 , 2:17pm
post #3 of 9

OK. So i have been looking and looking and this is what I came up with. It is similar with the drape / bunching of fondant. Maybe you could pm the designer of this cake?

http://cakecentral.com/cake-photo-709363.html

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i_heart_pastry Posted 29 Jun 2007 , 2:38pm
post #4 of 9

Are you thinking of something like this one from Toba Garrett?

http://www.tobagarrett.com/cakes.html

I love this cake!!!

Bec

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Starkie Posted 29 Jun 2007 , 3:05pm
post #5 of 9

In testing, I have been able to roll out the fondant to cover the entire bodice of the dress (excluding the 6" cakes on top) and have it flow evenly down the entire cake, so that's no problem. My hope is to replicate the "pockets" or "gathers" in the dress, like where the arrow is pointing. THAT'S the challenge here, doing this with only one piece of fondant (don't want overlapping layers of fondant going down the dress...). I think I'm just dreaming ~ I don't really believe that this would be possible in the real world, or at least with this size cake (14-12-10-icon_cool.gif. But I figured if anyone could figure it out, it would be the folks here at CC!!!

<S>
LL

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mamacc Posted 29 Jun 2007 , 5:29pm
post #6 of 9

No expert here, but if I was making this cake I would probably have an extra piece of fondant underneath that top layer, rolled thin so it wouldn't be too bulky. Then I would just gather up the top piece of fondant a little at the top and put a dab of water on the back and stick it in place and just form the gathers where I want them, using water to stick the fondant in place to form the gathers.

HTH!
Courtney

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Doug Posted 29 Jun 2007 , 5:33pm
post #7 of 9

Pinch pleats....

gather the fondant to make a pleat --
then move in a bit form the edge (1/2" of so) and squeeze enough to get the to pieces to stick to each other. then allow to fold over on itself.

see sketch -
top -- flat fondant
next -- beginning of gather
next - pinch in at bottom
next - allow to lay over on self.

by varying depth of pleat and how far along the fold you press it together you can vary the look.

need to start at top and work down as this will continuously gather in the fondant.

remember fighting gravity -- so it might be wise to consider doing it in at least two horizontal pieces, hiding the seam in the pleats.

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Starkie Posted 29 Jun 2007 , 10:20pm
post #8 of 9

Doug, as always, you are a lifesaver!!! Do you know of a cake picture where this has been done?

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Doug Posted 29 Jun 2007 , 11:16pm
post #9 of 9

sketch didn't post for some reason...

second attempt.
LL

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