Improver · about 12 minutes · 4 strokes
Loops practice sheet (tip 3, free PDF)
Quick answer
The loops sheet is free to download and print. It is an improver sheet for round tip 3 with 4 strokes of loops and takes about 12 minutes: print the A4 or US Letter PDF at 100%, pipe over the grey shapes in the numbered order, then photograph it for a score out of 100.
Rows of small e-loops and tall cursive l-loops. The rhythm behind cursive lettering and decorative borders.
You need a piping bag with tip 3 (round).
Free for personal practice. Print at 100% scale ("actual size").
What the loops sheet trains
Loops are the rhythm behind cursive writing and many decorative borders. The sheet has two rows of small, upright e-loops and two rows of tall l-loops that lean to the right, like joined-up handwriting.
Keep the squeeze constant and let the loops roll along like a spring. The second row is tighter, so slow down a touch to keep each loop open instead of squashed. On the tall loops the movement is up, round, down and forward; use your arm for the bigger ones and hold the same lean all the way along the row.
- On the sheet
- 4 strokes of loops, 194 cm of piped line
- Bead size
- 3 mm wide
- Speed
- 14 mm a second
- Bag angle
- at 45°
- Squeeze rhythm
- steady
- Separate starts
- 4: every line, unit or letter stroke begins with a fresh squeeze
Stroke by stroke
Bead is how wide the icing should be (or how big each unit is); speed is how fast to move along the line.
| # | What you pipe | Bead | Speed | Bag angle | Squeeze rhythm | Cue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | a 378 mm chain of loops, one every 10 mm | 3 mm, every 10 mm | 14 mm/s | 45° | steady | Small e-loops: round, even, and each one the same size as the last. |
| 2 | a 411 mm chain of loops, one every 8 mm | 3 mm, every 8 mm | 14 mm/s | 45° | steady | Tighter e-loops: slow down a touch to keep them open, not squashed. |
| 3 | a 580 mm chain of loops, one every 14 mm | 3 mm, every 14 mm | 14 mm/s | 45° | steady | Tall cursive l-loops leaning to the right: up, round, down, forward. |
| 4 | a 568 mm chain of loops, one every 16 mm | 3 mm, every 16 mm | 14 mm/s | 45° | steady | Bigger l-loops: use your arm, and keep the lean the same all along. |
Print the PDF at 100% and check the bar at the bottom measures 10 cm, fit tip 3, pipe strokes 1 to 4 in order, then photograph the sheet from straight above with all four corner squares in view. Printing and photo tips.
Watch the ghost nozzle
Press play and pipe along with the green ghost: it moves at each stroke's target speed.
Stroke 1 of 4
Small e-loops: round, even, and each one the same size as the last.
Mistakes to watch for on this sheet
Every loop in a row should be the same size and the same shape. Closed-up loops mean you went too fast for the icing; a loop that leans more than its neighbours means your hand turned.
- Wobbly line
Most likely on strokes 1 to 4 (loops). Lift the tip about 1 cm and let the icing fall onto the line while you move a little slower.
- Thin then thick
Most likely on strokes 1 to 4 (loops). Keep the same squeeze and the same speed from start to finish, following the pacer.
- Different sizes
Most likely on strokes 1 to 4 (loops). Count the same rhythm for every one (squeeze, ease, pull) so each gets the same amount of icing.
- Gaps and breaks
Most likely on strokes 1 to 4 (loops). Keep the same gentle squeeze all the way and only stop squeezing at the very end.
The loops sheet in the 30-day challenge
The 30-day piping challenge uses this sheet on days 8, 18 and 29. It comes after drop flowers and before block letters.
- Day 8 · New sheetKeep the squeeze constant and let the loops roll along. Same size loop every time.
- Day 18 · RepeatRepeat of day 8. Keep the lean of the tall loops the same all along.
- Day 29 · RepeatYour choice: pipe the sheet with your lowest score so far (open the app's progress page to find it). Loops is the suggestion.