BLENDED CHECKS CANE
- Jul 26
- 2 min read
Only two colours of polymer clay are needed to create this eye-catching checkerboard cane using the Czextruder. In this tutorial, Sandra Callander from Canada guides you step by step through creating a timeless geometric pattern by combining two contrasting gradients.
The finished cane is perfect for contemporary jewellery, earrings, decor pieces, and many other polymer clay projects.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS:
polymer clay – two colours, one dark and one light
machine
1.
Condition the clay and make a Skinner blend. If you want the transition from dark to light to be more gradual, use a curved line where the colours meet to allow more white clay into the blend. Finish by rolling the blended sheet to approximately 2 mm thick.
2.
Cut the blend in half so you have two sections transitioning from light to dark. Fold each half lengthwise.
3.
Run one half through the pasta machine, narrow end first, using progressively thinner settings. Roll it out as thinly as possible, stopping before the clay begins to tear. Starting at the dark end of the ribbon, roll the clay into a tight cylinder. Take care not to trap any air, and press out any trapped air bubbles as you notice them.
4.
Repeat step 3 with the second half of the Skinner blend, this time rolling the ribbon from the lighter end.
5.
Wrap each cylinder with a 0.5 mm sheet of clay in the same colour as the outer layer of the cylinder.
6.
Gently squeeze the cylinders to lengthen them, then roll them until they are the correct diameter to fit inside the Czextruder. Place a square disc in the cap and extrude the clay. Repeat with the second cylinder.
7.
Trim the ends of the extruded clay and cut each piece into eight equal lengths.
8.
Assemble the clay pieces by alternating the colours to create a checkerboard-pattern cane.
Tip: If you wish to reduce the cane, it is best to let the clay cool and firm up for at least a few hours, or preferably overnight, if you can wait that long.
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