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Watch-Learn-Create Challenge #52: Piped Crochet Technique with Evelindecora

 

Hi, everyone! For this challenge, I have a special guest, someone you know very well. She comes from Italy, and she has been one of the most active members of Cookie Connection for years: Evelin Milanesi, also known as @Evelindecora.

Evelin will be showcasing a technique that she originated in 2016: her signature Piped Crochet Technique. Evelin originated this technique as her personal take on the royal icing knitting technique that was quite popular at that time. She has used it to make a wool sweater and cap but also in other creative ways, such as to cover the roofs of her cookie houses; as a texture for her heart cookies; as a decoration for her cookie macarons; and even for watermelon slices! So, as you can see, this technique is more than another knit technique that's limited to winter clothing; it is quite versatile and can be used for any season and on almost any cookie shape.

Cookies by Evelindecora using her Piped Crochet Technique
Evelindecora's Cookies Using Her Piped Crochet Technique


Topic

When you watch Evelin’s demo, you will learn how to use her Piped Crochet Technique to decorate (cover) a square cookie. Evelin encourages you to practice on a square cookie first because it is the easiest way to learn this technique. Once you've mastered that shape, you can then apply the technique to any cookie shape or design, 2-D and also 3-D. For your challenge entry, we would like you to think of a unique way to use this technique on a cookie project of your own design. We want you to create something new that's never been seen before and to avoid using the technique to cover square/rectangular cookies.

So let’s watch Evelin’s demo together, but first . . .

Important: Evelin's video was recorded exclusively for Cookie Connection for the sole purpose of helping Cookie Connection members develop their skills and apply those skills to this challenge and future projects of their own design. This video recording, and the content contained therein, cannot be used as material for cookie classes, for purposes of financial gain, or for any other purpose than stated above without obtaining written permission from Evelin in advance. Thank you!

Below is a sneak peek of Evelin's video. To gain access to the entire tutorial and associated resource list, click here, and you will be taken to Julia's business site, where you will need to pay a small fee in order to view the video. Note: A large portion of challenge video fees goes to our featured guests to compensate them for the time and costs associated with prepping these masterful classes. The remainder covers the costs of video production, editing, and hosting.

Again, you can access the entire video with resource list here, as well as read a complete description of the video contents.

How nice it was for me to watch Evelin demo, and what an interesting and versatile technique! I am sure you will be equally impressed! Evelin has never before appeared publicly in video on social media, nor has she shared her techniques in a widespread way in this format, so having her as a featured guest is truly a special gift. I can't thank Evelin enough. Evelin has been teaching cookie decorating classes online for the past two years, and that’s why she is a natural in this video. Fun facts: Evelin and I met here on Cookie Connection, and I was also Evelin's student when I was living in Milan a few years back. She is an amazing teacher as you too will see in this video. [EDITOR'S NOTE: I echo Manu's thank-you. I am extremely touched and grateful that Evelin has been so generous with her time and techniques, and just for us! She did a wonderful job - what a pro on camera and in the kitchen! ~JMU]

After re-watching the demo, I realized that I could have talked with Evelin more, told you more about her, and asked her a lot of things, but I was so focused on her demo that I didn’t want to interrupt her. (I was also making sure that the recording was working!) Fortunately, Cookie Connection ’s resources come in handy. In fact, you can read more about Evelindecora in this recent Cookier Close-up by @Julia M. Usher, and, if there is something that you would like to ask Evelin regarding her technique, you can do so at any time in the comments under this post. Evelin will be available to reply for the duration of the challenge.

The purpose of these challenges is to stretch skills, learn, and try new things, and that's why cookiers of all skill levels are encouraged to participate. This challenge is not a competition among cookiers, but a way to have fun, challenge yourself (not compare), and share your learning experience. That’s also why prize winners have always been determined through random drawings, and that’s why we encourage you to participate with multiple entries.

Prize

And speaking of the prize. . . Evelin is donating one hour of her time to one entrant whose name, again, will be drawn at random. In this hour, you can ask Evelin anything cookie-related. This session is not meant to be a class or a demo, just a friendly Zoom chat with Evelin.

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Rules

The rules for participating continue to be very simple. We introduce only one little restriction in point #3:

  1. Watch Evelin's demo, get inspired, and challenge yourself to create a brand new cookie project of you own design featuring Evelin’s Piped Crochet Technique.
  2. Make anything you like, with the exception noted in point #3. Your entry could be a set of cookies or a 3-D cookie project, or even a single cookie. You can also use other decorating techniques of course, but Evelin’s Piped Crochet Technique should be the main feature. It should stand out - that is, it should be the first thing one notices when looking at your cookie entry.
  3. A little restriction: Avoid using square or rectangular cookies decorated either fully or partially with this technique. We are pushing you to stretch your skills and to use this technique in a creative way. Amaze us with your ideas! You can use square/rectangular cookies in your entry, but they should NOT be decorated with the Piped Crochet Technique.
  4. Please share in your entry comments what you learned, any difficulties you encountered and how you overcame them, and any suggestions to help and inspire your fellow cookiers. If English is not your native language and you feel more comfortable using your own language, you can. We will add translations if we can.
  5. Your work must be original and not a copy of Evelin's or of someone else’s work/design/art/image in accordance with Cookie Connection site rules and US copyright laws.
  6. Have fun!

To Enter

  • If you have a question for Evelin as you are developing your entry, that's great! We encourage questions and learning at every step of the process. Please enter all questions in the comments area under this post, so that everyone can benefit from the Q&A. And please tag @Evelindecora so she is sure to see your question and respond in a timely way.
  • Please post an image of your cookie project to the site under the Cookie Connection Challenge clip set no later than January 7, 2023 at 5 pm central time. (Yes, we are giving you lots and lots of time to create, as we know how busy everyone gets with cookie orders, friends, and family over the fall and winter holidays.)
  • Because these challenges will be ongoing, we ask that you put "Watch-Learn-Create Challenge #52" in your photo caption (subtitle field) AND in a tag, so we can tell the challenges apart from month to month. Please use the title field to uniquely name your cookies as you normally would.
  • Please also assign other relevant clip sets and tags to your images, as you normally would. (Don't use just the Cookie Connection Challenge clip set and leave it at that, or your photos won't easily be found with keyword searches.)
  • You can enter more than once, but please post only one clip of each distinct entry. Multiple clips of the same entry are not allowed unless added in a comment beneath the one primary clip.

On January 14, in our weekly Saturday Spotlight, I will reveal the 10 top-trending entries (as determined automatically by our site-trending algorithms*) as well as the randomly drawn prize winner. The next challenge will be announced soon after this challenge has closed. *Note: The site algorithms use members' collective likes, comments, and reactions to each entry to determine our Spotlightees.

During this challenge, which, starts today (October 20) and lasts about 11 weeks (!), you can ask any question at any time in the comments under this post, and Evelin or I will be happy to answer. We can’t wait to see your creations!

~ Manu (and Evelin)

Manuela Pezzopane, affectionately called Manu by her friends and family, is the author of the blog feature Made by Manu, where each month she shares the method behind a magical cookie of her own making. In March 2022, Manu also assumed the role of host of our rebranded and reformatted Cookie Connection Challenges: Watch-Learn-Create Series, which debuted in a virtual video format in July 2022. A fan of everything handmade, Manu professes to have tried every possible hobby. However, it wasn’t until the end of 2014, when an American friend invited her to a Christmas cookie exchange, that she first discovered decorated cookies. In 2015, after watching Julia M. Usher's videos and signing up on Cookie Connection, Manu finally attempted her own designs. Since then, cookie decorating has become Manu’s passion, and her mesmerizing video shorts have earned her a large and loyal following throughout the global cookie community. Manu harks from Rome, Italy, where she currently resides. You can email Manu at manubiscottidecorati@gmail.com, follow her on Facebook and Instagram, or explore her past challenges and large library of Made by Manu tutorials here on Cookie Connection.

Photo credit: Manuela Pezzopane

Attachments

Images (2)
  • Evelin's Cookies Using her Piped Crochet Technique: Photos and Logo Courtesy of Evelindecora
  • The Prize - One-Hour Zoom Chat with Evelin: Wafer Paper Art and Logo Courtesy of Evelindecora

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Comments (47)

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Wonderful video, @Evelindecora and @Manu biscotti decorati. I felt like I was right there with you! And, Evelin, once again, I can't thank you enough for sharing your expertise so generously with our community!

Last edited by Julia M. Usher

Thank YOU @Julia M. Usher and @Manu biscotti decorati for this great opportunity to share my love for cookies with all Cookie Connection members! I hope this tutorial has been helpful, good luck to all participants, can’t wait to see all piped crochet cookie entries!

💗🍪💗

I'm so happy to see this because I learned the technique from @Evelindecora for the cookie skill swap PBP challenge 4 years ago. When I asked her, she generously showed me how to, even with a short video!  Her trick to pipe parallel lines is very useful. It's a great technique not only because it looks gorgeous but also because it helps you improve your piping skill. I hope lots of people try this challenge!

I'm so happy to see this because I learned the technique from @Evelindecora for the cookie skill swap PBP challenge 4 years ago. When I asked her, she generously showed me how to, even with a short video!  Her trick to pipe parallel lines is very useful. It's a great technique not only because it looks gorgeous but also because it helps you improve your piping skill. I hope lots of people try this challenge!

Thank you very much Noriko for your precious feedback, so glad you watched and appreciated the video! I also hope many people will try this new technique to take part at this super fun challenge!

💗THANK YOU💗

Thank you again, Evelin, for your time and for sharing your technique. I am looking forward to seeing how the articipants will apply this techniques to enter the challenge!

Dear @Manu biscotti decorati, thank you with all my heart, my pleasure!                                                         Me too! Can’t wait to see all the entries 🍪

I am so excited to watch this and participate! I have greatly admired Evelin’s work and have made some very crude attempts at reproduction. This gives me the perfect opportunity to watch, learn and challenge myself. Thank you so much Evelin, Manu and Julia!❤️❤️

@LisaF posted:

I am so excited to watch this and participate! I have greatly admired Evelin’s work and have made some very crude attempts at reproduction. This gives me the perfect opportunity to watch, learn and challenge myself. Thank you so much Evelin, Manu and Julia!❤️❤️

Thank you for watching it dear Lisa, can’t wait to see your take on my piped crochet technique! Good luck 💗🍪💗

I am sure you’ll do a wonderful job Petra!

💗💗💗

Thank you Evelin @Evelindecora❤❤❤

I just couldn't resist 39.4 covid lying in my bed, but I mean must to watch your video,thank you for your tips,advices, how to....

Last edited by Petra Florean

Thank you Evelin @Evelindecora❤❤❤

I just couldn't resist 39.4 covid lying in my bed, but I mean must to watch your video,thank you for your tips,advices, how to....

Take good care of you and please recover very soon! We are all waiting to see your entries at the Challenge 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

@Zeena posted:

Thank you for this video tutorial Evelin @Evelindecora and Manu @Manu biscotti decorati. Evelin your work is always stunning and I am so glad to learn this technique from you.

Thank you @Zeena! I hope you’ll take part at this Challenge can’t wait to see your cookies 💗❤️💗❤️💗

Such a great demo of this gorgeous technique! Plus the video had loads of helpful general icing tips, too. Thanks so much for sharing, Evelin!

Thank you very much Samantha for watching the video tutorial, couldn’t be more happy to learn it’s a helpful guide for the participants of the Challenge! Thank you 💗💗💗

The video is great.  You mention a recipe for chocolate cookies (with cocoa). Is that just replacing some of the flour with cocoa?  If so how much? It’s nice having the contrast.  Thank you!

@Stevie Jean posted:

The video is great.  You mention a recipe for chocolate cookies (with cocoa). Is that just replacing some of the flour with cocoa?  If so how much? It’s nice having the contrast.  Thank you!

@Stevie Jean you are 100% right! In Italy we easily find ‘sugared cocoa powder’, an ingredient similar to ‘Nesquik’ but made just for baking. I add 10 grams of it every 100 grams of flour without changing nothing to the original list of ingredients. If you add instead pure cocoa powder to your dough it becomes dry and its taste becomes strong, bitter and all other aromas are covered by that. Said this @Manu biscotti decorati and I decided in the end to avoid the cocoa version of my recipe and write the classic one. Anyhow I write here the correct name of the cocoa I usually use: ‘cacao già zuccherato’ Perugina brand ❤️

Dear Evelin @Evelindecora, thank you so very much for your gracious presentation of your crochet technique with royal icing . I love this technique. Learning something new is always so much fun!! I've always greatly appreciated your kindnesses throughout the years in encouraging and supporting all cookiers of every level!! You are a true artist with a wonderfully creative mind.

Thank you Manu @Manu biscotti decorati for this wonderful detailed explanation of the rules along with the time you have given us! And thank you for the generous amount of time you have given us for creating our own cookie project featuring the crochet technique. ❤️❤️❤️ Hugs...

Thank you both so much, this is a wonderful video with so many tips. I hope to give it a go as I am SO very out of practice and it will be a good task to try and improve my piping with. Thank you for being so generous with your time.

Another excellent challenge @Manu biscotti decorati! Thank you Evelin @Evelindecora for sharing your expertise - including your tip on how to create beautiful colors. You are a great instructor, and I could watch you pipe lines all day long.

Last edited by Sweet Prodigy
@LisaF posted:

I finally had a chance to watch this. It was the perfect way to start my day. Thank you both so much for your time and generosity. I can’t wait to get started! ❤️

We can’t wait to see how you will use @Evelindecora’s technique!

Another excellent challenge @Manu biscotti decorati! Thank you Evelin @Evelindecora for sharing your expertise - including your tip on how to create beautiful colors. You are a great instructor, and I could watch you pipe lines all day long.

Thank you, Christine! ♥ Same! I could watch all day!

Thank you both so much, this is a wonderful video with so many tips. I hope to give it a go as I am SO very out of practice and it will be a good task to try and improve my piping with. Thank you for being so generous with your time.

Yes, @Evelindecora’s has been so generous and now we can’t wait to see each entry.

Dear Evelin @Evelindecora, thank you so very much for your gracious presentation of your crochet technique with royal icing . I love this technique. Learning something new is always so much fun!! I've always greatly appreciated your kindnesses throughout the years in encouraging and supporting all cookiers of every level!! You are a true artist with a wonderfully creative mind.

Thank you Manu @Manu biscotti decorati for this wonderful detailed explanation of the rules along with the time you have given us! And thank you for the generous amount of time you have given us for creating our own cookie project featuring the crochet technique. ❤️❤️❤️ Hugs...

Carol thank you always for being so supportive and enthusiastic through all these years. Can’t wait to see your piped crochet cookies 💗

Yes, @Evelindecora’s has been so generous and now we can’t wait to see each entry.

I unfortunately just broke my arm this week it "should" be better by Christmas so hopefully I can just squeeze it in in time. typical! I was so looking forward but I'll enjoy seeing everyone's work. ❤️

Thank you both so much, this is a wonderful video with so many tips. I hope to give it a go as I am SO very out of practice and it will be a good task to try and improve my piping with. Thank you for being so generous with your time.

Dear @Marie Elgaard, cant’ t wait to see your piped crochet cookies! Good luck and thank you for appreciating the video💗

@LisaF posted:

I finally had a chance to watch this. It was the perfect way to start my day. Thank you both so much for your time and generosity. I can’t wait to get started! ❤️

Dear @LisaF, thank you for watching our video! Can’t wait to see your beautiful entry☺️

Another excellent challenge @Manu biscotti decorati! Thank you Evelin @Evelindecora for sharing your expertise - including your tip on how to create beautiful colors. You are a great instructor, and I could watch you pipe lines all day long.

@Sweet Prodigy Thank you with all my heart for taking the time to watch it! My icing was naughty and nervous on that super hot day in July but in the end it worked 😊 Manu and I had a very fun morning in working on this video, so glad you liked it!

Happy Sunday 🥰

Thank you both @Manu biscotti decorati and @Evelindecora for this wonderful tutorial! It was very informative! I do have a question regarding icing consistency . So often we know that too thick/dry of icing will chip off the cookie. How best would you describe the consistency you use for piping your lovely lines? Thank you again!

Thank you both @Manu biscotti decorati and @Evelindecora for this wonderful tutorial! It was very informative! I do have a question regarding icing consistency . So often we know that too thick/dry of icing will chip off the cookie. How best would you describe the consistency you use for piping your lovely lines? Thank you again!

Tagging @Evelindecora again to be sure she sees this question.

Thank you both @Manu biscotti decorati and @Evelindecora for this wonderful tutorial! It was very informative! I do have a question regarding icing consistency . So often we know that too thick/dry of icing will chip off the cookie. How best would you describe the consistency you use for piping your lovely lines? Thank you again!

@The Baroque Baker thank you for your question, I am sure it might be helpful also for other cookiers not happy about their stringworks. I often teach classes in English to ladies located in the US and always notice a huge difference between your RI and mine. I always use a RI mix very similar to ‘real royal icing’ made only with egg whites and very fine confectioner’s sugar. (Unfortunately it comes from UK and it is quite impossible to buy this product in US at a reasonable price). You often use meringue powder and confectioner’s sugar following the instructions on the back of the package. You may easily notice that inside meringue powder there is a very long list of ingredients like xantano, arabic gum, E171 and so on. The result is a different texture and consistency from simple egg whites+sugar. Yours is chewy, extra white, almost gummy if you try to mix it very stiff. My icing is super stiff when piping lines and piping flowers (exept RI in this video when I had 100° in my kitchen), it almost doesn’t attach to the cookie but it’s elastic, very performing and easy to be used. Please always remember that RI attaches very well on RI but not very well at all on cookie surface, because of its texture and butter contained inside it. My suggestion is to find a not too stiff but not creamy consistency to pipe your intricate piping designs if super stiff consistency doen’t work well for you. Hoping to have been helpful I thank you for watching the video and wish you a wonderful day 🌸

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