Patchwork cutters

 

                       

click picture to enlarge

 

 

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Patchwork cutters may be used to create may different types of designs, using a variety of Sugarcraft techniques.

Most of these designs are created by first embossing the soft surface of a fondant covered cake or the soft surface of a plaque. To do this, lightly press the cutter onto the surface, ensuring that all the details of the cutter are embossed. Gently lift the cutter and then use the embossing to position the pieces that make up each design.

It is helpful to look at the picture to try to establish which objects are in the background and which are in the foreground.

The picture can then be created by rolling out paste in a colour suitable for its intend use, cutting the relevant sections with the cutter and gluing the piece in place. A more complicated design is created by adding additional layers to the design to create depth. Items such as dressed, collars and petals can be frilled to create even more interest.

The completed picture can the be dusted and painted as desired.

 

HINTS

Use a firm paste to prevent the cut-outs from stretching once they are lifted off the board.

Ensure that each section completely covers its allocated space. If it doesn’t, use your fingers to gently rub/stretch the piece to fit.

Use only enough vegetable fat to prevent the paste from sticking to either the board or cutters. A cheap firm bristled brush is good for detailed cutters.

Rub the cutter across the palm of your hand before each cut. This will help to prevent the paste from sticking.

Roll out the paste to a medium thickness. Too thin and details will be lost. Too thick and the paste will get stuck in the cutter.

Use a soft toothbrush and warm soapy water to clean the cutters after each project is completed.

 

PLAQUES

Use a ⅓ Pettinice (Ready to Roll / Fondant) and ⅔ flower paste mixture for your plaque. This ensures that the plaque will be strong once dried, but gives you a little more time to get it rolled out and embossed.

 

BRUSH EMBROIDERY

#1 writing nozzle in a piping bag	Soft royal icing
Good quality, fine firm brush	Water
Paste food colouring

 

Use a Patchwork cutter to emboss the design into the cake or plaque whilst it is still soft.

 

A multi coloured design can be worked in one of two ways.

Fill piping bags, containing a #1 nozzle with the relevant royal icing colours and pipe each colour as required in the relevant place            OR      

 

Use white royal icing and dip your brush into water and the relevant food colouring, when brushing out your design. Take care to ensure the colouring is not too intense as it will be impossible to alter it. You can always add more colouring on completion of the piping.

If a white colour is needed, use only a little water.

Only work on one small section at a time. Work from the outside of the design towards the centre. Start with the background first. This can be painted in alcohol and the relevant food colouring. The brush with the colouring must be fairly dry or the cake/plaque will start to melt and become shiny.

Pipe a line of royal icing around the shape. Before the icing dries, brush the icing from the edge towards the base of the shape. Use long strokes to avoid ridges and brush the icing in the direction of the veining on petals or leaves. Leaf veins can be defined by either brushing away icing or by piping in the veins with a #00 nozzle. The result should be that there is a heavy line of icing around the edge of the shape, fading to a thin film of icing at the base. Make sure that the embossing lines are concealed by your piping.

The leaves in a design are usually behind the flowers and so the leaves should be done first. The back petals of the flowers should be done next, and then the next layer of petals until the front petals are completed. In this way the front petals will be emphasised. Any furling on petals should be left until last. They should be completely filled with icing, like flood work. If there are any stamens visible in the flower, they should be piped last.

Shadows and highlights can be painted on the brush embroidery when it is completely dry. Dusting powders can also be used but care must be exercised so that there is no drift of the powder.

 

Brush embroidery can be used as a side design on a cake. It will also make an attractive cake top design. Mixing brush embroidery with bas relief is also very effective.    

 

OVERPIPING

#0 writing nozzle in a piping bag	Soft royal icing
Good quality, fine brush	Alcohol
Lustre colour of choice	flower paste in relevant colours

 

Use a Patchwork cutter to emboss the design into the cake or plaque whilst it is still soft.

 

Roll the relevant colour flower paste until thin and cut the component parts of the design from it. Moisten the embossed design and lay the cut out sections over the corresponding area on the embossed design.

Overpipe all the detail and outline of the design with a #0 nozzle. Use a small damp brush to knock back any points and keep the piping on top of the lines. Allow the piping to dry and over paint with lustre colour mixed with alcohol to form a paint.

 

RAISED EMBOSSING

Use a Patchwork cutter to emboss the design into the cake or plaque whilst it is still soft. The plaque should be made from Pettinice (Ready to Roll / Fondant) only in this instant as you will need a lot of time to complete this method.

 

Use a Dresden tool to depress the fondant around the edge of the design, taking care to work neatly and not to get finger or tool marks on the rest of the cake / plaque. Next work on the back layer of the design, again using the Dresden tool to depress the paste that is ‘under’ the next layer of the design. You can also insert the Dresden tool under the edge of the following layer and raise it slightly. You work on each subsequent layer until you are pleased with the design. It is very important to know which layer is on top and which layer is below.

 

FREE STANDING FIGURE

You will need to use the back of some of the shapes to make both sides of the figure.

Roll flesh coloured paste thinly and cut out your figure. Allow to dry on a flat sponge, ensuring that the limbs are in the same position as the cutter. (this is called the frame) Dust blush onto cheeks. Paint in eyes and mouth. Roll out hair colour, cut and apply. Roll out flesh coloured paste a little thicker than normal, but no so thick that your paste gets stuck in the cutters and cut legs. Dampen the frame and add the legs to it, sandwiching a cocktail stick between the two layers of the leg that the figure stands on. Ensure the two parts of the leg are well joined together, especially around the edges. Look carefully at the figure and note if the limb is on top of or under the clothing. Add the clothing starting from the furthest item, working to the thing that is uppermost on the figure. I always make sure that any frilling I do has a layer of the same colour underneath as in the case of a skirt, the frill will expose the figure to her waist in some cases!!!

Dust the figure and add extra details such as small flowers, shoe laces, jewellery etc. to make the figure relate to the person receiving it.

 

I hope I have given you some ideas. There are many more in the Patchwork books.