Hi all, I'm newly registered on the forum though I have been religiously reading all the posts for a while now. I would like to thank you all for the wonderful information and advice supplied here.

I would also like to ask for some advice, I've recently started selling my cakes having only done ones for family previously and I have an order for a straw hat like this
[url]http://www.hugestore.com/swatches/sailor_straw_big.jpg


but I have no idea which tip to use and if I should just make the brim out of buttercream.

She likes lemon bon bons so I was thinking a simple sponge with lemon filling and toffee buttercream?

Any advice would be much appreciated xx

no one have any advice?

It's kind of hard to tell what the straw hat really looks like up close with that picture, so I would suspect it's hard to advise you on what tip to use.

I've googled a few other images to try and find a better one, but I don't know if it's the same kind of pattern.


but it seems that the sailor type straw hat is just this kind of straw braid


I would try and used basket weave tip, but "upside down" or I see here that wilton does have a plain flat one (44) that could work if you have it.

It'll probably take some practice, and a nice amount of time to do, but that's where I think I'd start.

I'd also try and "draw" out the swirl of the braids around the brim and the top before I frost it with the buttercream. This way, you can have an easier time making sure that the width of the braids stay close to the same.

Unless someone else has a better idea.

Can you do it in fondant?

I made a tote based on a straw one...you can see it here: http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1754452

The bottom is all individual fondant braids...I think it would work for a hat.