Hello all! I just got back from my first wiltons class and was thinking.. I know this could be very dangerous! But our instructor wants us to bring in 20 parchment bags for next week. I was looking at them and they seem to be a pain in the but really, in my eye. The down fall to this is they only come in a pack of 100, I onlly need 20, since I just bought a box of disposable ones last week thinking this would get me through the course! But I was wondering if anyone had any. If you do could you please email me at [email protected] Thank you!
believe me you will use the whole box eventually! I just got finished using 3 to pipe some details on some cookies to day...
I just used disposable bags for all of my classes because I don't like parchment bags.
I agree with tinascakes - I can't hold the parchment bags the way you are supposed to in order to pipe with them - I find it very difficult to work with them! I also have issues with using bags without couplers - I just can't! I have to have a coupler in every bag that I use (I actually own 12 couplers). I can only hold a bag the way you hold a regular decorating bag - just can't seem to hold a parchment bag the way were we taught to.
~Chelle
If disposable works for you, then use that. Wilton's motto is "teaching AND selling" so don't let them bully you into thinking that you must buy both. I've taken all three courses twice and taught Wilton -- you are not obliged to parchment if you are not comfortable with it. My motto "whatever works for you!" 
how did you like the class?
I bought both kinds and prefer the disposable ones now. I did use the parchment ones when doing royal icing flowers, piping, etc. You will use them up though!! You might want to learn both types and which ones to use for what.... 
yep for some reason parchment bags work better for RI detail work..
I can't stand the parchment bags. They're more trouble than they're worth. I buy disposable bags in the box of 100 and use them and the feather weight bags. I've used my big parchments to line my pans. At least I'm getting some use from the $ I spent. Use whatever works best for you.
I thought the class was pretty good, except she had us bring a cake when not every needed too. Some people iced their cake and some just sat there looking at theirs! As for the parchment bags she said we had to bring 20 parchment bags folded and ready to use for next week. I don't feel that I will every use 100 of those silly things when they make the disopable and feather weight bags, which I fell in LOVE with during class. I am eyeing some of them up for my birthday next month. And since I don't think I will be stopping after course 1, I think they are worth every penny! As for the caddy's they make and sell which do you all prefer? The blue one or the maroon one? I found some of them NEW on ebay and they are really cheap. The blue one is $70.00 and the maroon one is $32.00. If I am going to take all three courses I shoud just spend the $70 on the big one, right? Even though I do have some of the things in there but it doesn't hurt to have extra's right? Okay I think I am done with all my useless info or silly questions.
Before you buy off ebay remember you can almost always get a 40% off coupon either from Hobbby Lobby or Michaels and I think with shipping you can beat the price. Also I wonder if you couldn't just cut some parchment paper into triangles and use for you class. Maybe if you made a couple to show you had the technique down the teacher wouldnt mind you using disposable.
Melissa
Silvercat~~
I just got done with my first class for Wilton 1 too!
I really got the feeling they were teach & sell...mine got all the people who have no decorating experience to buy everything Wilton in the store!!!
I did buy the big pack of parchment bags hoping I will like them (I use disposable ones and they do get pricey).
Did your instructor use merigune powder in her icing and cake?
I have never done that before and wondering how that will work. She got most of the class to buy the huge Wilton can of merigune powder. I will wait and see....
Let me know how you enjoy your class, I am excited to get some formal training and unlearn my bad habits!
I don't do much with RI, but i still have the box of parchment bags I bought in 1993. Might need it someday LOL
Silvercat....I wouldn't buy the Wilton toolbox. I did and wish I never had. You can get just as much organization space with a cheap Walmart type tackle box. I bought one for about $15.00 (the type with the 3 trays hinged right in). It works great. The best part is the price. If you run out of room, you can always add to it for far less than you could with the Wilton product. You should check one out before you decide. It's well worth it. Enjoy the cake decorating....it's very addictive (much like this site!)
Lil
I also hate...hate....hate...(did I say that I hate) parchment bags. I could never get the folded right 
they are a pain in the butt. I also use the disposable one and wash them a few times.
As far as the caddy I got the blue one (with a 50% off coupon) and I love it.
Korensmommy: I always use the merigune powder in my frosting. I also put it in my cakes.
korensmommy~ Yes she used merigune powder in her icing. And she used a cup of cirsco instead of the 1/2 &1/2 recipe I use! I asked wht the difference was and she said it was all the same. So when I make my icing for class next week do I make my normal icing or do I make what she did? I think I will cut parchment paper and make my own bags that way. I don't see why they sell it in bulk like that, they should have two options for us. The other thing is that our AC Moores & Michaels are side by side and peopl taking the course at Michaels are going into AC Moores and buying supplies there too. The problem is either stores have enough things in stock! So when we need something there isn't enough for everyone. These are the only two stores that have a BIG selection of the wilton products. Walmart carries some but not alot! I am not sure where else to buy locally here. Thanks to everyone for their input about the bags and tool caddy.
well, i guess i must be the exeption (or maybe just old school) I love my parchment bags. I buy the big ones and cut in half for little jobs. They are cheap, and once you learn to fold them they are easy to use. I believe the last time i figured out the price difference between those and the disposibles there was like a 20 or 30 cent difference. Thats a hugh difference if you are uses three or four bags on one cake.
When I taught Wilton I brought in my box of parchment bags since I know that I will use them! I let all the class have a couple and showed them how to make the cones, etc. Some went out and bought after that, some boycotted parchment and all the students appreciated not being "obliged" to buy a box of something they may hate and not use.
I asked wht the difference was and she said it was all the same. So when I make my icing for class next week do I make my normal icing or do I make what she did?
It is NOT the same..... Pure Crisco is pretty on the cake, as it is pure white, but also leaves a greasy feeling and taste in your mouth....... you will be taking the cake home to eat, so do the one that YOU like.....
I asked wht the difference was and she said it was all the same. So when I make my icing for class next week do I make my normal icing or do I make what she did?
It is NOT the same..... Pure Crisco is pretty on the cake, as it is pure white, but also leaves a greasy feeling and taste in your mouth....... you will be taking the cake home to eat, so do the one that YOU like.....
Thanks for letting me in on this one bc that is one thing I hate about bakery cakes! The greasy tasting icing that it leaves in your mouth and gosh who wants to eat all that grease on a cake! PHEW!
Definately get the 100ct large parchment bags! You may not think you will ever need them or use them, but you WILL! I promise! You probably won't ever use them exclusively for buttercream (I prefer disposable for that) but you might find that you are out of disposable bags and don't have time to run to the store for more. They are PERFECT for chocolate transfers - you can get the tiniest of holes for piping black outlines. When you use disposable bags for CT's, that seam constantly gets in the way. You can leave them in the big triangle for big projects or cut them in half for smaller ones. I also use mine to roll out my cookie dough - one underneath and one on top. That way I never have to add flour to my surface, thereby adding more and more flour to my dough. I have perfect cookies that don't end up misshapen when I try to lift them up and put them on the baking stone. Folding them is very easy, once you learn the trick - just takes thinking about it for a minute to get the hang of it. I usually add a piece of tape or two to hold it in place.
Peg818, I, like you, also like the parchment. My hands are a little too warm to use the disposable, and I hate putting the bags in the fridge for a little. I got 2 boxes of the 100 when HL had 50% off. I also almost always cut mine in half, so I think my cost on a cake is extremely minimal -(maybe 1/2 cent or so).
Silvercat, use whatever icing you prefer and also whatever bags you are most comfortable with. As far as a tote, I found a hardware box at wal-mart for 5.00!! It has a removable tray, and the top also opens up and lots of wonderful little compartments in it. You'll find that you will stray from the "wilton way" very quickly on some things. Especially if you become addicted like all of us are!!
Good luck in your next class. Don't feel pressured. Most importantly....HAVE FUN!!!
If you want pure white icing fgo with teh 1 cup crisco. i do this because its easier and one less thing to measure/add.
Now the caddy: like others you can get it at acmoore or michaels with a 40% off coupon. If they dont have it tell them to order it, i do it ALL the time. when it comes in just be sure to have a VALID coupon for that week and you will get your discount.
I personally have never used parchment my teacher didnt even show us she only told us to refer to that one page if we wanted to use them. Just cut out a couple and brign them to class, but make sure you bring in your other bags so you have enough for the whole class time.
I also personally have bought the blue caddy not the red. the blue had supplies and even though i have a lot of the tips that were in there i still have bought triples of some of them. I actually wish i got the 101 piece professional set but thats up to you. The blue is more then sufficient for class one and most of class two (you will need to buy course 2 and 3 kits though cuase some tips cant be bought).
Good luck and congrats on your first class. I aacutally am thinking abotu taking class 2 and 3 over again but at a different store to just get a different feel for the teachers. I have joann fabrics, michaels, and acmoore within 15 minutes of where i work and yes they are always sold out of things when classes start but just go tot he front and say i need to order something and they willl just call you wehn its in.
Sorry for the long rant. good luck
I use both parchment and disp. bags. I was taught how to use the parchment in school and they work well for royal icing and choc. details. I also have both the red and blue boxes, I bought the red and my sister bought the blue but my sister no longer does cakes so I have both now plus 2 boxes from Target and I still need more room.
I bought the empty burbundy caddy. I stack my tips by type as much as I can so I haven't run out of space yet. I only keep certain things in it and have another container with carrying handle that I used to take to class. With a cake carrier and caddy in hand I was always scared I'd drop one or the on the way into the store. And I'd rather it be the cake because I KNEW that caddy would come open and my tips would go everywhere! I was always very careful about making a class list for supplies and clean up items so I didn't have to buy much on class days.
Why would Wilton Enterprises waste all that money to "train" "teachers" that won't "push or sell" their products?
WE, gives the WMI free training, great discounts, free products...they don't "TELL" us to sell , sell , sell...it's just 'implied"
and as a WMI, I always told my students "I don't care what you did before or what you're going to do after...but this class is made possible by Wilton, so we will do it 'their" way.
I also gave EVERYONE a list of rules the first day of class..everything from...no licking the tips or the fingers to respecting the instructor and other students...( you ALWAYS have a 'know it all" in class that is always questioning or trying to "share" how they do it "better"!)
korensmommy~ Yes she used merigune powder in her icing. And she used a cup of cirsco instead of the 1/2 &1/2 recipe I use! I asked wht the difference was and she said it was all the same. So when I make my icing for class next week do I make my normal icing or do I make what she did?
Depends on what you're using it for. My instructor had us make one big batch of all-Crisco icing with no vanilla (just substitute water) that we use just for practicing techniques on the boards and flower nail. It lasts forever, doesn't need special handling, you don't waste expensive butter and vanilla, and you can reuse it over and over. When we have to ice a cake, we do the 1/2 butter 1/2 crisco, since then you care what it tastes like.
I suggested the 101 piece caddy not for the caddy itself, but because it contains many of the extra tools you'll need for the courses that aren't in the Student Kits, including bags. I agree that you'll probably do better getting it from a store near you with a coupon.
Three of us took the ALL the Wilton Courses together so, we split the 100 pack of parchment bags! That was 3 years ago. Still have some parchment bags.
I, TOO, am parchment bag challenged! LOL Never could learn to fold the darn things! But, I use parchment to smooth my cakes....sooooo, if I have a "small area" that needs touch up these work GREAT!
Beth in KY
peg818 - I guess it's you and me. All I use is parchment. I tried the disposable and would get "blow outs". And the clean up is great. I do quite a few cakes and a box of 100 lasts me for awhile.
chelleb1974 - I just counted and I have 20 couplers. I have to have a coupler in every bag too.
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