🌸 How to Use the Garret Frill Cutter by JEM: A Step‑by‑Step Guide for Beautiful Cake Borders

If you love adding elegant borders, ruffles or vintage‑style trims to your cakes, the Garret Frill Cutter by JEM is one of those classic sugarcraft tools that never goes out of style. Made in South Africa and trusted by decorators around the world, this clever cutter creates crisp, even frills that instantly elevate your cakes — without hours of fiddly hand‑cutting.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned decorator, this guide will walk you through exactly how to use the Garret Frill Cutter for clean, professional results.

✂️ What Is a Garret Frill Cutter?

The Garret Frill Cutter is a circular cutter with a removable centre. It’s designed to create:

Frills

Ruffles

Decorative borders

Skirt or dress effects on figurines

Vintage‑style cake trims

Because it cuts a perfect ring of paste, you get a consistent frill every time — no uneven edges or wobbly lines.

🧁 What You’ll Need

To get the best results, gather:

JEM Garret Frill Cutter

Fondant, gum paste or flower paste

Foam pad

Small rolling pin

Petal base (or a tiny bit of shortening)

Ball tool or frilling tool

Edible glue (optional)

🌼 Step‑by‑Step: How to Use the Garret Frill Cutter

1. Prepare Your Paste

Roll out your fondant or gum paste thinly — the thinner the paste, the softer and more delicate your frill will look. A little petal base on the roller pad helps prevent sticking.

2. Place the Paste Over the Cutter

Lay your rolled paste directly over the Garret Frill Cutter. Make sure it covers the entire circle.

3. Roll to Cut

Use your rolling pin to gently roll over the paste. You’ll feel the cutter edges underneath — keep rolling until the shape is fully cut.

4. Remove the Centre

Lift away the excess paste and remove the centre circle. You’ll be left with a perfect ring — this is your frill.

5. Create the Frill

Use a ball tool or frilling tool to thin and ruffle the outer edge. Work in small circular motions along the edge to create a soft, natural frill.

6. Attach to Your Cake

Brush a small amount of edible glue or water along the area where the frill will sit. Gently press the frill into place, allowing it to drape naturally.

7. Layer for Extra Drama (Optional)

For fuller, more dramatic frills:

Cut multiple rings

Ruffle each one

Layer them slightly offset

This creates a beautiful tiered effect.

🎀 Tips for Perfect Frills Every Time

Use gum paste or flower paste for the cleanest, strongest frills.

Let the frill dry for a few minutes before attaching if you want more structure.

Dust lightly with cornflour to prevent sticking.

Add colour or lustre dust to highlight the ruffled edges.

Practice on small pieces first — the technique becomes second nature quickly.

🌟 Why Decorators Love the JEM Garret Frill Cutter

Consistent, professional results

Saves time compared to hand‑cutting

Perfect for vintage cakes, wedding cakes and figurines

Durable, long‑lasting and easy to clean

Made in South Africa with reliable quality

It’s one of those tools that looks simple but becomes a go‑to once you’ve used it.

💬 Final Thoughts

The JEM Garret Frill Cutter is a must‑have for anyone who loves adding soft, elegant detail to their cakes. With just a little practice, you’ll be creating beautiful frills that look like they took hours — when really, the cutter does most of the work for you.

If you’d like, I can also create:

A matching Pinterest‑style graphic description

A shorter version for social media

A step‑by‑step printable for your customers