Polymer clay kaleidoscope cane

Prepare 3 gradients using 1 quarter apple green bread, 1 quarter tangerine and 1 quarter petrol blue, each combined with as much white. For a beautiful gradient, it's best to multiply the transition shades. To do this, create an intermediate color by mixing a little of the two colors in each gradient, as in photo 2. Once your colors are ready, create your three gradient plates (if you need help with this, follow the tips in this video).

Run each plate through the clay machine one last time, but this time in the opposite direction and at the second-to-last notch, to stretch the gradients.Cut your green and orange sheets lengthwise into two equal strips and roll them in opposite directions to obtain two opposite gradient canes.

Grab your blue plate by the white side of the gradient and accordion-fold it to a strip about 1 cm long.

Set aside your 3 colored canes and now prepare a black and white striped block. Put half a loaf of black bread and half a loaf of white bread on the widest setting of your clay machine and cut out 3 squares from each plate using a cookie cutter. Lay the 6 squares neatly on top of each other, then cut in half and reassemble to double the number of stripes. If your striped block is too soft, place it in the fridge for half an hour, so you can cut it without crushing it.

Step 5: Rotate your striped block as shown in photo 14 and, using a blade, cut it diagonally. Assemble the two pieces by joining the two bases as shown in photo 15.

Place your striped "lozenge" on the side of your worktop and pick up your colored gradient canes. Don't touch the green gradient cane with the white in the center, but cut the orange and apple-green cane in half lengthwise and roughly flatten the orange cane with the white.

With your materials ready, you can now proceed to assemble the pattern. Start by combining the black and white striped block, wrapping it lightly around the unmodified gradient cane as shown in photo 17. Accentuate the overall triangle shape of your blue gradient cane and place it on the other side as in photo 18. Distribute the prepared pieces as shown in photos 19 and 20.

Once you've assembled all your components, weld them together using your work surface to form a triangular cane as shown in photo 21.Gently stretch your triangular cane, always using the table as a support (if necessary, consult the cane data sheet: Learn how to make your own polymer clay canes).

Cut your stretched cane into two equal pieces and join them together as shown in photo 23. Apply pressure to form a triangular cane again, as in photo 24. Repeat the operation, stretching the cane again to cut it in two and assemble as in photo 26.

This time, don't deform it into a triangular cane, but gradually straighten the sides of your cane, using your work surface to obtain a square-section cane as shown in photo 27. Stretch this new cane using the flat surface of your table or a roller. Remember to rotate your cane regularly on each side to stretch it as evenly as possible. Once your cane is long enough, cut 4 sections and assemble them as shown in the photo.

This time, don't deform it into a triangular cane, but gradually straighten the sides of your cane, using your work surface to obtain a square-section cane as shown in photo 27. Stretch this new cane using the flat surface of your table or a roller. Remember to rotate your cane regularly on each side to stretch it as evenly as possible. Once your cane is long enough, cut 4 sections and assemble them as shown in the photo.