Lettering and Intricate Designs - Any Tools/Tips?

Hi, Mikaela, Congrats on making your first post. I look forward to many more to come!

Piping bags or bottles?  Try both and see what you like.  People don’t use tips because less clean up.  I use disposable bags but with tips because I feel like I have more control.  Tips and tricks?  Use cookie connection and ask questions.  I also watch videos on cookie decorating ideas..  good luck!

Hi Mikaela,
I personally hate to use squeeze bottles. Not for contours at all. They may go to fill. But Econlady is right. You have to try it yourself. ... and don't give up if it doesn't work the way you want! Then try it differently.

I have friends who love the bottles.  I agree that I don’t feel like I have control.  I feel like I have more control with tips.  I know tipless bags aren’t designed for couplers, but I use them.  They work better because the bag is thinner.  

what I would suggest as a tip is what I learned years ago from Karen Summers, when she had a website and before CookieCon.  She took prepared icing, put it is plastic, rolled it up and then using both hands twirled it so it was twisted tight on both sides.  Then you can drop it in a piping bag and cut off the end going through the coupler.  It makes clean up much easier and frequently I can use the bag several times.  It also helps if the bag bursts.  I hope explained it correct.  I’ll have to look for a video.

@Econlady posted:

I have friends who love the bottles.  I agree that I don’t feel like I have control.  I feel like I have more control with tips.  I know tipless bags aren’t designed for couplers, but I use them.  They work better because the bag is thinner.  

what I would suggest as a tip is what I learned years ago from Karen Summers, when she had a website and before CookieCon.  She took prepared icing, put it is plastic, rolled it up and then using both hands twirled it so it was twisted tight on both sides.  Then you can drop it in a piping bag and cut off the end going through the coupler.  It makes clean up much easier and frequently I can use the bag several times.  It also helps if the bag bursts.  I hope explained it correct.  I’ll have to look for a video.

Exactly!! I do that too. Goes wonderfully and you have described it perfectly!

Thank you all so much for your replies! I tried using a piping bag with no tip, but I think next time I will try with a tip for more precision. I have also been watching lots of videos and checking Pinterest and the forums on here. I will definitely have to look into Karen Summers’ technique.

I prefer small parchment cones for precision-piping (of basic round lines) and flooding.  I can cut the hole as small as I want (often smaller than the smallest tip), and I have greater control because the bag is relatively small. PLUS, no cleanup!

I sometimes use coupled bags (not disposable) with tips for intricate line work, most often when I know I have to pipe A LOT of something and it's important to the design to have the same line width. (It's a bit harder to go from cone to cone, and to cut the exact same hole size.)