I get many emails inquiring about the chevron pattern that’s so hot this year, so when it came time for my next DIY project for Project Wedding, the choice was obvious.

I am certainly not the first cake designer to use the chevron pattern on a cake, ad I have to give a shout out to my predecessors. This peach and navy chevron cake by Vanilla Bake Shop is the first one I remember seeing, years ago, and I love the preppy colors and contrasting heights of the two tiers. I love the clean lines and muted tones of this one by Sweet & Saucy. And finally this one by Carrie Sellman of The Cake Blog, because it is so incredibly neat and accurate.

I don’t know how other cake designers do their chevron, but here’s how I do mine.

You will need (clockwise from left):

water
tapemeasure
paper
cornstarch
fondant in the color(s) of your choice (We used a citrus-inspired palette here.)
Xacto knife
scissors
food-use only paint brush
pen
rolling pin
fondant board

Measure cake’s circumference. Determine the size of the chevron by dividing circumference into even segments the size of your choosing, usually around 1″ – 1.5″, to . For example, our cake had a circumference of 26″. We determined that each segment would be 1.3″ for a total of 20.

Create chevron template. Measure segment size on paper and mark with pen. Holding paper horizontally (landscape), fold into accordian so that each fold measures the same size as the segment. (Each of our folds measured 1.3″)

Cut paper at an angle. For a deeper chevron, angle scissors more vertically. For a more shallow chevron, angle scissor more horizontally.

Using the same angle as first cut, cut the other side of the paper. For a wider chevron, move scissor further from first cut. For a narrower chevron, move scissor closer to first cut.

Unfold. Your chevron template is complete.

Create fondant chevron. Roll fondant thinly. Place template on fondant and carefully cut with Xacto knife. (Avoid paper sticking to fondant by rubbing it with cornstarch.) Remove excess fondant.

Score cake. Use template to gently score cake to guide placement of fondant chevron.

Create pattern on cake. Use water to wet cake. Apply fondant chevron to cake. Continue pattern around entire cake.

Lay second color directly above first. (Optionally, use the template to guide placement of another row evenly spaced above first row.)  Repeat with additional colors.

Complete the look. Add fresh flowers, or use sugar flowers like the sugar ranunculus seen here.