How to make a knitting basket cake
Two years ago I made a 3D knitting basket cake. I got so many great comments on it and the cake was featured on a lot of knitting blogs 
Last year I then got a request on making a tutorial on it for Desserts Magazines. But now I want to share it here aswell. It is a really fun cake to make and if you know or have a family member who just loves to knit, this cake will be a hit.
You can make the basket in almost any shape but I like round, oval and square the best. Use a nice, firm and moist cake of your favourite choice and you will also need to bake 1 x 6″ round cake to make the balls of yarn.
This is what I use:
1 x cake in either shape: Round, oval and square.
1 x 6″ round cake
Cake board
Buttercream or chocolate ganache
Sugar syrup
Serrated knife
Small knife
Angle spatular
Rolling pin
Basket weave embosser from Patchwork Cutters or a basket weave textured rolling pin.
Sugar craft gun with medium round disc
2 small paint brushes
White fat (Crisco)
Silver edible liquid color
Clear alcohol
2 wooden BBQ sticks
Cornstarch
Brown food gel color
White rolled fondant icing
3 gel food colors of your choice for the ball of yarns
Cornstarch dusting bag
Block of styrofoam
Tylo glue
Knitting needles:
Start by rolling 2 small fondant balls and glue them to the end of the BBQ sticks. Set aside and let it dry. Paint both BBQ sticks with silver edible liquid color and place them in the block of styrofoam and set a side.
Ball of yarn, step 1:
Trim of the top of the 6″ round cake and place it in a bowl and break it down with a fork (a foodprocessor can be used instead) add 2 tbsp of buttercream or chocolate ganache to start with and mix the cake mixture until it can be rolled into balls. Make sure that they can fit into the basket cake. Place the cake balls on a plate and put them in the refrigerator to get firm.
Ball of yarn, step 2:
Color some of the fondant in the colors you like and take out the cake balls. Start with 1 cake ball at a time and brush it lightly with sugar syrup. Now roll out some fondant and cover the cake ball. You dont need to get it all smooth because you will add strings of fondant afterwards. Continue with the last 2 cake balls.
To make it more easy to push the fondant through the sugarcraft gun, knead in a little white fat and drops of water. load the sugarcraft gun with fondant and use the medium round disc. Push out long strings of fondant and lay them close together like shown on the photo.
Ball of yarn, step 3:
Brush glue on one of the ends and with a knife cut the strings like shown on the photo. Attache to the ball and repeat on the other end.
Continue pushing out strings of fondant. Brush with glue on the ball and place them across on the ball. Do this twice, only now placing them the oposite way. Set aside and continue with the last two.
Remember to save some of the excess fondant for later to make extra strings.
Basket cake, step 1:
Give the cake a light crumb coat with bc or chocolate ganache and set it aside. Color some fondant light brown, roll it out and cut a “lid” in the same size as the cake by using the cake tin. Trim off any excess fondant if needed. Knead the light brown fondant and roll it out long enough to go around the cake. Take the basket weave embosser, dust it well with cornstarch and emboss the fondant in the same height as the cake. Cut it with a knife and roll up the fondant.
Basket cake, step 2:
Roll the embossed fondant around the cake. Trim off any excess fondant and remove any left over cornstarch with a dry brush.
Basket cake, step 3:
Make a long robe out of the light brown fondant by rolling two long sausages and twist them. Cut the ends clean. Glue it on the top of the cake with tylo glue.
Basket cake, step 4:
Mix brown food gel color with drops of clear alcohol on a plate and paint the whole basket cake. Set aside to dry.
Assembling the cake:
To assemble the knitting basket cake, take the three “balls of yarn” and place them in the basket. Make more strings in the same colors as the “yarn” and place them randomly on top. Finish by placing the knitting needles in the basket (see top photo).
Happy Caking
Louise
1. Monika
May 24th, 2009 9:25 pm
Wow, what a wonderful tutorial!
To lay the strings side by side and then put a big piece on the balls is so helpfull – thank you!
Monika
2. CakeBelieve
May 24th, 2009 9:27 pm
Just BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for all the steps….I don’t know any knitters, but I’m thinking I better find someone soon! Great blog!
3. Teddi
May 24th, 2009 10:10 pm
Sweet! Thanks for the great tutorial!
4. ButterYum
May 24th, 2009 10:47 pm
Absolutely wonderful tutorial – thank you so much for sharing!
5. Rachael B
May 24th, 2009 10:48 pm
This was the cake that made me want to start decorating.
I made a copy of it a while ago as it was perfect for my mum. It’s waaay more simple than yours as I am just starting out.
http://athomewithme.typepad.com/at_home_with_me/2009/03/any-excuse.html
6. Sandy R
May 25th, 2009 3:08 am
Thanks for the tutorial. You make it sound easy to put together. I will try this soon.
7. Edith
May 25th, 2009 3:16 am
Awesome Louise. Thanks for sharing.
8. Sandy R
May 25th, 2009 3:24 am
oops, I forgot to ask, what do you mean by sugar syrup? Is it store bought (corn syrup)or made at home (sugar &water)?
Thanks again.
9. Yuha
May 25th, 2009 11:44 am
Thank you for sharing the tutorial. Just love it.
10. Helen
May 25th, 2009 1:11 pm
that is soooo cute, but once again the crocheters are left out in the cold!!! VBG
11. Kati
May 25th, 2009 1:16 pm
That is truly amazing!!!!!!!
12. Judy
May 25th, 2009 1:20 pm
Thank you Louise for sharing your great tutorial, excellent way to add the ‘wool’.
13. kathrin
May 25th, 2009 1:46 pm
Thanks for sharing this tutorial, very inspiring!
14. Kimbers
May 25th, 2009 1:47 pm
I’m an avid knitter and I would be so pleased if someone gave me this cake, it’s heaven really, edible yarn!
15. Helena
May 25th, 2009 1:50 pm
Thanks so much for sharing – wonderful tutorial!
16. snooky doodle
May 25th, 2009 2:15 pm
simply stunning
17. Tortelinchen
May 25th, 2009 2:20 pm
Wow this is great! I think I have to buy a sugar gun. I want to have one since a while an this cake is one more reason to buy it.
18. Celene's Cuisine
May 25th, 2009 2:25 pm
Thank you for sharing your tutorial. I always wondered how to make a cake like this and I love when feloow bakers will share how to create projects. Yoou never know when you might have a customers who might want something like this cake.
Congratulations on the magazine feature. I love reading your posts.
Thank you again!!!
19. isi
May 25th, 2009 2:35 pm
great work here!
looks so real!
20. Ladybug Luggage
May 25th, 2009 2:48 pm
Genius, thank you for sharing!
21. dulzuramagica
May 25th, 2009 3:42 pm
Wow awesome and so easy to make! thanks for sharing!!
22. Lex
May 25th, 2009 5:18 pm
THAT IS AMAZING!!!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing. I don’t know anyone who knits but boy do i want to try and use the techniques you have shown. Where do you buy the sugar guns in the US?
23. Rikke
May 25th, 2009 5:30 pm
It’s real pretty ! As always !
What kind of cake is inside the cake balls? Do you have a receipe for it, it looks really delicious.
24. Maggie
May 25th, 2009 6:01 pm
Thanks for the wonderful tips on how to make this cute cake. Can you share some of your cake recipes as the box mixes here produce such soft cakes.
25. Sara
May 25th, 2009 6:27 pm
Thank you for sharing another awesome tutorial!
26. Dhanya
May 25th, 2009 6:28 pm
Wow ..what an awesome tutorial. Now I have to make this cake soon.:).
27. Annette
May 25th, 2009 6:30 pm
Thank you for this wonderful tutorial!!! I know just the person I can make this for
28. Anonymous
May 25th, 2009 6:56 pm
Wow, thank you for sharing, really cool!!!!
29. lyzzie
May 25th, 2009 7:19 pm
Thanks , the tutorial is great and fabulous ,congratulations you work is amazing
30. EdibleImaginations
May 25th, 2009 7:20 pm
You did it again : taking the guessing and wandering and a whole lotta more out of yet another awesome creation … THANX Louise!!
31. Lauri
May 25th, 2009 8:39 pm
Wow!! I cannot wait to make this for my Thursday night “Sit n Knit”!! Thank you SOOO much for the tutorial! One question though, I am also wondering about Sandy R’s question….corn syrup or sugar & water?
Thank you SOO much for sharing!!
32. kim
May 25th, 2009 8:59 pm
Another amazing tutorial, Louise! I’ve been wanting to make this cake since I got my clay gun -and thanks for the tip of laying the yarn side-by-side! I’m sure that saved me many hours and heartache. These yarn balls would be cute sitting on cupcakes, too:)
33. marielba
May 25th, 2009 11:00 pm
Amazing Louise. I didn´t have the idea how to do it, good job, great tutorial, Hugs from Venezuela
34. My Sweet & Saucy
May 26th, 2009 4:20 am
This is just fabulous! Great tutorial!
35. Kathia Castro
May 26th, 2009 5:18 am
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful tutorial. The cake is amazing.
36. paula
May 26th, 2009 10:07 am
louise,
amazing what you can make, it looks real…..
I learn a lot from you,
thank you very much…..
gr
37. zarina
May 26th, 2009 10:48 am
Hi Louise, it is so sweet of you to share this step by step tutorial with us. u are not only talented but also a generous person. may god bless with you.
38. Anja
May 26th, 2009 12:54 pm
So beautiful. I would love to make a cake like this for my mother, she knits all the time, and it would be just perfect! But I think it is a bit to difficult for me…
Hugs from Anja
39. kara
May 26th, 2009 9:10 pm
Awesome !! Thanks so much for sharing this with us !
40. sugar dimples
May 27th, 2009 4:12 am
So beautiful and easy once you know how. Thank you for taking the time to share that!
41. bonita
May 27th, 2009 10:15 am
hi … im one of your blog reader:) i was wondering what kind of alcohol do u use to mix with the brown food coloring … is that safe to eat …
thankss
42. Shelly Jaronsky
May 27th, 2009 2:19 pm
This cake is insane!! Thanks for posting the tutorial! I didn’t even know there was such thing as a sugarcraft gun!!! crazy!
43. KUKA´S WORLD
May 27th, 2009 3:12 pm
Cool blog!
44. Rianne
May 27th, 2009 10:31 pm
Hi Louise! I have a little something for you
http://artofdessert.blogspot.com/2009/05/lemonade-stand-award.html
45. Sue
May 28th, 2009 1:57 am
You’ve outdone yourself! WOW!
46. Aurelie Martins
May 28th, 2009 3:36 pm
Hi Louise,
I love your blog, so many helpful tips!
I would like to make this cake for my sister’s future mother in law. However, I do not own a sugarcraft gun and I’m not sure if I want to spend $45 to get one, although it would be helpful. Is there anything else that I could use instead to make the yarn? I have a mechanical pasty bag from Williams N Sonoma, do you think that it could work?
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/6692123/index.cfm?pkey=cbaking-pastry-tools-bakeware&cm_src=hero
Any suggestions you have would be truly appreciated!
47. Toni
May 28th, 2009 7:03 pm
This was just amazing!!! You ‘re the best!!! Thank you!!
48. Jacqui
May 29th, 2009 1:03 pm
Loiuse, I love all of your creations and especially the colours. What do you use for colouring. Do you you gel or powder and what make. Thanks for the inspiration.
49. Louise
May 30th, 2009 11:17 pm
Sandy R: you can use either of it.
Lex: you can get the sugar gun from http://www.globalsugarart.com
Maggie: search for “chocolate mud cake” this is such a nice cake. Lots of chocolate and is so good for carving.
Lauri: pls see my reply for Sandy R in this comment.
Anja. im sure that you can can do it
bonita: I use a clear vodka, It is safe to eat because when you mix/paint the alcohol will evaporate so you cant taste the alcohol. You could also use lemon extract.
Aurelie Martins: well you could try look for a clay gun instead they are a bit cheaper and is ok to use. I dont think that you would get a good result with the machanical pasty bag.
Jacqui: I use powder and or gels.
50. Sue
June 1st, 2009 7:53 am
hi louise…..simply amazing…thanks for the detailed tutorial
51. sheela.aziz
June 1st, 2009 8:26 pm
wow such a great job
52. Jenny
June 1st, 2009 11:12 pm
wow! this is AWESOME! you’re so creative! thanks for the tutorial =).
53. Alessandra
June 2nd, 2009 8:21 am
I wander if I could use spirulina powder to make a natural green colour…
great cake! Thank you!
54. anncoo
June 3rd, 2009 10:51 am
This looks so real.
55. Rachel
June 3rd, 2009 8:46 pm
WOW! This is AMAZING! I’ll be linking to this.
56. Hanaa
June 4th, 2009 5:04 am
Wow, that looks awesome. So real looking. Great job!
57. Louise
June 4th, 2009 11:27 pm
Alessandra: I cant see why not? Go ahead and try. I would love to know how it went
58. Anonymous
June 8th, 2009 8:56 am
Gorgeus !
59. Alessandra
June 13th, 2009 3:03 am
Yes, spirulina works…I have to mix it well with icing sugar first, and then add water or fresh egg whites (my icings are pretty basic…), but so far I have only tried with pouring icing, not the thick ones.
So far the colour is not super smooth, I will work on it.
60. Mimi
June 16th, 2009 6:33 am
What size oval pan (from end to end) is used in the photos?
61. Mariah JB
June 17th, 2009 2:56 am
How CUTE!!!! I’m brazilian and I’m in love with this website!!! Congrats for you!
I’ll write something about you in my Blog these days…
Kisses
62. Kathryn @ Australia Entertains
June 20th, 2009 4:45 am
Louise, you are amazing. I’ve just posted you as the Australian “Cake of the Week”! I hope you love it and thanks for the inspiration! I hope you love us over at Australia Entertains and Pink Frosting too xo
63. Louise
June 22nd, 2009 12:14 am
Alessandra: Good to know
Mimi: I bought it as an 8″ oval pan
64. Mimi
June 22nd, 2009 2:44 pm
Thank You!
65. Dorie
July 4th, 2009 8:01 pm
Thanks Louise so much for this cake, I made it for a crocheter whose birthday was yesterday(07/03) and when I presented it to her she got such a huge smile on her face and stated “I just can’t believe it”. Again thanks!
66. Cassie
July 24th, 2009 4:13 pm
Hi Louise
Thank you so much for posting this! Really fantastic instructions – I can’t wait to make it! A family friend asked me to make a wedding shower cake with a knitting theme – i’m definitely going to use some of your techniques! Say, how much would you charge for it? Thank you!!
67. Louise
July 25th, 2009 12:35 am
Cassie: Ohh have no idea? sorry. But I am happy that you can use some of it for the shower cake.
68. chellie cupcake
September 15th, 2009 8:33 am
WOW That is amazing!!
and you made it look so easy….I will hopefully make this someday soon..
…when I get the equipment!!
69. Disa
October 31st, 2009 2:39 am
Thank you so much for sharing!
but because I didn’t have your wonderful tools I improvised a little
Love your site. Just wanted to show what I did with this gorgeous idea of yours (Never made fondant or fondant decorating before) Used your fondant recipe
Here is a “end” picture of what I did:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3421/3984184116_0b0d66d999.jpg
Thank you again SO much
(a fan from Iceland)
70. Louise
November 3rd, 2009 12:32 pm
Disa: You cake looks great anyway
71. Shannon
November 5th, 2009 7:18 am
I cannot wait to make this cake for my mother-in-law who loves to knit! My only concern is making the rolled fondant. I tried once and it reaaally did NOT turn out. Not sure what I did wrong. I’ll use your recipe and try again. Do you have any comments about store bought RF? Is there a great difference between store bought and homemade? Love your blog, thank you!
72. Disa
November 9th, 2009 12:06 am
Good luck to you Shannon with your cake!
I made the microwave fondant for the first time with that cake I did, and it turned out great
73. Louise
November 10th, 2009 11:14 pm
Shannon: When I now and then make home made RF, I will make MMF. But at all times I am a ready bought RF user. I use a great danish brand. For other brand have I heard good about following: Fondx and Satin Ice.