So I've made a few bows now (specifically the 'loop' type bows) but I find that making them in pure sugarpaste aka fondant leads to breakages.

I've read loads about adding CMC and such like, which is fine, but I suppose what I am confused about is WHAT I am trying to achieve... let me try and explain more.

The loop parts break, but I don't know if this is because the icing is too soft, too hard, too dry, not dry enough, not elastic enough etc etc. So I don't know what to 'add' because I'm not sure what I'm trying to fix/achieve. I hope that makes sense.

So my question is, to make loop bows, does the icing you use want to set entirely hard, or does this make it brittle? Does it want to be more like sugardough so it holds it's shape but would still be soft and edible?

I'm confused, please help!!

I use gumpaste for all my bows. They dry quickly and are hard and won't break.

OK... do you happen to know what gumpaste translates to in the UK? Modelling Paste? Sugardough? Flower paste? Mexican modelling paste? etc

I believe what you need in the UK is modelling paste.