I'm making a gumpaste bow for my daughter's birthday cake and have been using Marsha Winbeckler's youtube tutorial (

)...when I pinch the center of the bow, it keeps tearing before I can get the center piece attached. I think the gumpaste is too soft - I kneaded shortening in to make it pliable (using Wilton gumpaste, FYI). Do I need to add Tylose or Gum-Tex? I have both of those but am not really sure what to do with them - I don't work with fondant or gumpaste much although I'm dying to learn more!  Thanks!!!

Hello annakat444! Are you letting the loops dry before attaching to form the bow?

 

I am sending you some links hope it helps you!

 

 

http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2010/06/make-cake-series-gumpaste-bow.html

 

http://www.cakeboss.com/FondantBowTutorial.aspx

 

http://cakecentral.com/a/how-to-make-a-fondant-loop-bow

 

 

Good luck!

 

CIAO!

AHey soledad, thanks for the help! I'm actually making a bow that would go on the front of the cake - not the top...so would the method I use to make the bow still be the same? But to answer your question, according to Marsha's tutorial I am supposed to let it dry first, but I couldn't even get that far. It kept tearing before I could even get the PVC through the loops so i could stand it up to dry. She makes it look so simple and easy...im getting a little frustrated!

Acakemasters.com has a free tutorial by kaysie Lackey on making a fondant bow for the front of a cake. You would have to register (free) and then you have access to the free tutorials.