Hello, I just finished Course 1 and I had some questions about the wilton rose. Do you have to use Tip 12 to create the base? I think it is such a hassle trying to unscrew and rescrew tips back into place...plus does anyone have any good ideas regarding roses? Thanks 
Using the striping technique or the two tone method leaves you with an interesting rose colorwise.
I just use the same petal tip to create my base, saves the changing of tips. But you can always use two pastry bags instead of one, this way, no tip changing. 
You can alos use a chocolate kiss for the centers.
I learned another technique where you zig zag your rose tip and go back and forth and up making a triangular shape as your base. It's too much of a pain to make a separate bag or change tips just for the center. You just have to make sure when you make your first petals for the center that they're really tight and closed so you don't see the base. Works great!
I have my students in course 1 do two bags as a time saver.
If you don't want the mess of doing an extra bag clean up job then plop your buttercream onto plastic wrap and make a "log" with it. Then snip of one end of the "log" and drop it in your prepared bag.
Also just a tip in general: After your dont decorating drop your items in hot water and let them soak while you wash your other things up. When you are done and move to the hot soaking water clean up your things will be ready to wash/put in the dishwasher.
I found another video on you tube for making bc roses....she uses the same tip to make the "cone" so she is not changing tips or icing bags. I don't know if you will be able to see how she does this very well, but I assume like anything, it takes some practice.
hth...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fgpPlv4geU&feature=channel
well, since most of my days consist of making full sheet pans full of roses, i've figured out my most effective way to make the starting point is by taking my bag, and spinning the flower nail clock wise (or opposite of how you spin it to make the rose) i make a cone in the center...
so with the "tip" pointing in the center of the flower nail, and rotating the nail clockwise, apply pressure and just start the rose with the middle part from that point on top of the cone...
hth, and wasn't TOO confusing... (lol i may have confused myself) 
I've got a couple different method for a rose, no flower nails needed or extra tips...
I make a few in this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tHSzbG_y9JE&feature=channel_page
At the end of this one I do a 'reverse rose', very easy
http://youtube.com/watch?v=eUBOPGjmIFI&feature=channel_page
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