It can take a while to get used to icing cookies. Practice makes perfect. Always aim to make a few more than you need and enjoy the odd imperfect cookie along the way. (We’ve noticed that the cookies that are misshapen or the ones with the wiggly lines or colorful splotches taste just as good as the perfect ones.) You can also practice icing on sheets of parchment or wax paper before you commit to decorating your precious handmade cookies. Like a “tracing paper” for cooks, it helps you get a feel for it, and you can get a good idea of the pattern and the shape that you want to make before trying them on your finished cookies. Or perhaps buy a package of smooth cookies, and practice on these until you’re more confident.