A sweet sweet friend of mine just made some big changes in her life! She quit her job and is pursuing her passion…sewing, knitting and all things fabric!! She is SO amazing and her craftsmanship is phenomenal!! I wish her Soooo much success in this new chapter of her life. So, to celebrate, I made her this mini knitting bag cake. A few firsts for me, and a few lessons learned, but overall a very fun fun cake! I love how it turned out!!
If you’re still reading…here are a few lessons learned! This was the first time ever using an extruder gun. I bought the little cheap one at Michael’s and it definitely gave my hands a work out, but I love how it produced these tiny strings for the balls of yarn. I used cakejournal’s tutorial, but instead of cutting the end pieces on the yarn balls, I just made it go all the way across. So, I had three sections of extruded string for each cake ball. The balls were actually cake left over from carving the 6″ tiers…I mashed them up and added some swiss–meringue buttercream and whallah! – although, next time I would have kicked it up a notch by dipping them/covering them in the chocolate melties like Bakerella does! Back to the extruder…you need to have the fondant the consistency of gum! It needs to be extremely soft/rubbery. I added the coloring and then added some crisco to it so it was almost stretchy…just like the consistency of ABC gum!! It took me a while to figure that out…but after I did, I got the look I wanted.
The second thing is that I used Swiss-Meringue Buttercream! – and had NO bulging issues at all!! YEAH! Why you might ask? – I refrigerate the cake!!! Yes, I had a bit of sweating, but all I did was stick it directly under a fan for 30 min or so, and whalllah! – all dried to a beautiful finish! Worked amazingly well!! So, I’m going to be using my SMBC and refrigerating cakes!!
The second thing is that I used Swiss-Meringue Buttercream! – and had NO bulging issues at all!! YEAH! Why you might ask? – I refrigerate the cake!!! Yes, I had a bit of sweating, but all I did was stick it directly under a fan for 30 min or so, and whalllah! – all dried to a beautiful finish! Worked amazingly well!! So, I’m going to be using my SMBC and refrigerating cakes!!
I think that’s it! Basically it was a super fun cake I’ve been wanting to try. I didn’t want to use the basket because it’s too grandma looking! The bag is much more modern and more like what she would use anyway.
Thanks for looking!
O. M. GOODNESS. I LOVE IT!!! Your craftsmanship is so amazing!!! Really, really good job, Jess!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AAAAAARRRRRRRRRGH!!! I think this could be my favorite yet but it’s so hard to choose! AMAZING, CUTE, and PERFECT for the deserving recipient! You blow me away, girl!
(that’s a lot of exclamation points but they are all needed – !) :o)
You forgot to say that it tastes amazing! Oh wait, only Hans and I would know that It was sooo good, and such a surprise treat! Thank you so much!!!!
AMAZING AGAIN! Love it love it love it! Great work Jes. What a nice surprise to receive, and it is well deserved! I can’t wait to see your next creation….
Oh my goodness! How cute and how perfect for Kelly!! You did an amazing job! I think I would have a hard time cutting into one of these pieces of art, they’re SO amazing!!! Great job!
I didn’t know Kelly had shifted gears. What a cool way for you to celebrate with her. The cake looks amazing!
This is so adorable! Great work, once again.
Okay, so I realize this is a cake blog AND that you make incredilble cakes and all, but it seriously looks real!- like a real knitting basket. AMAZING JOB! I can’t to see your website and pricing- maybe I can order Bella’s first birthday cake from you… even if that is a ways out
amazing! what about mickey mouse, how do feel about doing a disney one?
This is so chic, and very unique. Did you use a template for the bag. Is the bottom like oval shaped or rectangle
Thanks! I think it’s a 6″ card board circle that I thinned to an elliptical type shape…if I remember correctly!
I adore all of you work but I fell in love with this cake from the first moment I saw it! I hope you don’t mind that I tried to duplicate it for my mother and mother-in-law for Mother’s Day. I’m just a hobby baker but I try my best to make special cakes for the special people in my life… http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2407977/knitting-bag