I'm finding whenever I use the rose tip (104) I can never get a smooth edge on my petals. It doesn't matter if I am doing a rose or rosebud, the edge always seems to be broken or feathered. I have tried adjusting the thickness of the icing, and have also tried using different pressures on the bag, but neither seem to make much difference. I am open to any suggestions - I would love to be able to make a better looking rose!

Sometimes the feathered edge can come from piping too slow and turning your nail too fast. It stretches out and pulls the icing.

Something I have heard helps if it isn't the way you are piping is to add a tablespoon to every cup of stiff icing you are working with. It's suppose to make it more creamier.

Sorry -- add what to the icing? gel?

That happened to me too.. I added a bit of water to my icing to thin it just a bit and that seemed to work for me.. HTH

Usually the two reasons you mentioned are the culprits. Try what is suggested on thinning, just a bit, you still need it to be firm to hold the shape of the petal.

I always have the same problem too!! Mine always look like cabbages instead of roses! I gave up trying b/c I was always told is my consistency, I changed that and they still never came out right! I'm going to try slowing down! That makes sense!

I add 1-2 TBLS of corn syrup and that seems to make it a little more elastic. Let me know if that helps you or not. Keli

I add piping gel to my stiff icing. It works just fine.

One other suggestion I received once was to make sure that the opening to your tip is adequate .... my instructor took my flower nail and used that to open up the tip just a bit, and the results were dramatically different.

I also put just a small amount of piping gel or glucose to my frosting if it seem that its a little too thick ..

good luck!