Black & White geometric gradient cane FREE tutorial

DIY

Fringe Bib Necklace & Earrings

You will need:
Pasta machine
Blade
Square cutter - size 4 cm/1.5 inch
1 package white Polymer clay
1 package black Polymer clay

Introduction

The pasta machine is very important; it basically sets the width and thickness of the layers. On my pasta machine width number 1 setting is the wider, which means it makes the thickest sheets, and width number 9 setting is the narrowest and it makes the thinnest sheets. In this tutorial I am referring to those numbers. If it's the opposite in your pasta machine - work accordingly the other way around.

Step 1

Condition the clay with the pasta machine, every color apart, until it is smooth to use.

From each color make a thick sheet, with number 1 setting.

Step 2
Cut each color sheet to half and set a side 1 half of each color.
Run the other half of each color (every color apart) through setting 3 on the pasta machine.

TIP
On the next steps - making the layers - can be done simultaneously, but to keep the white clay clean, it is better to work with the white color first, through all the making layers steps, and then do the same steps with the black clay.
On the next steps the explanation refers only to one color but it refers to the black and white colors separately.

Step 3
So, now we have 2 sheets from each color, one thick and the second is thin.
Cut with the square cutter 1 square from the thicker sheet and 1 square from the thin sheet.

Step 4
Combine the two squares pieces together. This will be the thickest layer of the cane.

TIP

Prevent confusion with the layers making steps like this:

place the squares on a paper and arrange them from the thickest on the right side, in descending order to the thinner in the left side - it will be easy to assemble the cane this way.

I use a printer paper (A4) for easier disconnecting and separating the squares from my working surface. This way the clay won't stick to surface and it will keep the square form complete while building the cane.

Step 5
In the end of this step you will get 8 black squares and 7 white squares.
Make the rest of the squares from each color, the same as steps 3+4;
please note that some of the squares are made only from one layer.

As shown in this step, every square has a different thickness;
the letters are representing the order,
the numbers are the pasta machine width setting.

The squares arrangement by thickness:
A - 1+3
B - 2+3
C - 3+3
D - 1
E - 2
F - 3
G - 4
H - 5

Assembling the cane layers

Step 6
Place the thickest black square (A) and on top of it place the thinnest white square (G) and tighten slightly.
Step 7
Place a black square (B) on the white layer and then place the thinnest white square (E) above it and tighten slightly.
Step 8
And again, black square (C) and white square (E) above it.
Step 9
Keep on building the cane with the same order until the last thin black square (H).
Reduce the cane slightly - press on the cane, from black side to black side, firm and tighten slightly.

…and voila! The cane is complete.

DIY fringe necklace and earrings

It seems like Black & White are always in style. I've made from this cane a few long beads and designed a fringe bib necklace and a pair of earrings with a trendy look but still classic.

Preparing the beads:
Cut a thick slice, about 5 mm / 0.2 inch.

Cut from the slice, as shown in the picture, every 5 mm / 0.2 in.

You need 5 beads for the necklace and 2 for the earrings, so you might need to cut another slice.

Attach an eye pin to the black thickest side of the bead.
Cure the clay according to the manufacturer's instructions.
After total cooling, pool out the eye pin and reattach it with e-6000 glue.

Materials for the necklace and earrings:
metallic cord (length: 45-50 cm / 18-20 inch)
some silver seed beads (2 sizes)
2 crimp beads
2 jump rings
2 silver calottes clamshell ends / knot covers
1 lobster clasp
silver earring kidney hooks (not shown in the picture)
2 pliers