How to make a polymer clay TILE cane - Free tutorial

 

A tile cane is formed basically like a kaleidoscope cane which start with a triangle shaped cane, multiplied by two to create a square cane and then multiplied by four to form a design of a tile.

This tutorial presents the steps starting with a triangle shape I drew on a paper as a guide and then forming all its parts while trying to maintain a triangle shaped cane, which is the base for the tile cane.

The size of the triangle drawing and the height of the parts will determine the final size of the whole cane. I drew a triangle schema, starting with a 90 degree angle, measuring 9x9 cm / 3.5x3.5 inch from each side and connecting them with a line. you can draw a smaller triangle size, that will be fine too. The height of the parts I've assembled are approximately 5 cm / 2 inch, for me it is a nice and comfortable size to work with.

Keep in mind a few things - The tile cane design consists of shapes and background, this tile cane has a white "background color", and its "shapes" are a variety of blue shades. When choosing your palette consider what is the color of your background and what are the colors of the "shapes".

Let's start! The photos are easy to follow, create similar shapes as my design or create your own shapes and lines.

Starting from a sharp angle, forming a few shapes and lines. Then adding the white background color and then continue adding lines and shapes.

Then going to the second sharp angle and adding there shapes and lines, adding more shapes and also adding the white background color.

...another view of the step above.

When the second sharp angle is done, connect the two parts of the angles with shapes and lines.

Add more white for the background between the two parts of the angles then work on the 90 degree angle, adding shapes and lines.

The first main cane, the triangle cane, is done. Reduce this cane to a long triangle shaped cane, at least 20-25 cm / 8-10 inch long, and try to maintain its shape and corners all the way through.

Before dividing it into 2 parts, clean its sides until the design is clean and similar on both sides of the cane.

Then cut the cane into two and attaching them to all of their length, being very precise so the design will match like a mirror, forming a square cane. Maybe it won't look like a square shape at first, maybe more like a rhombus shape, but that is OK, while reducing it just shape it into a square.

Reduce this cane to a long square shaped cane, at least 20-25 cm / 8-10 inch long, and try to maintain its shape and corners all the way through.

Clean its sides until the design is clean and similar on both sides of the cane.

Cut the cane into 4 equal parts.

The tile cane is almost done. Now comes the step to assemble the 4 parts and sometimes it is a hard decision. You can skip this step and work with the "quarter" cane, making a surface, mirroring the slices and creating a surface of tiles.

Or, continue to assemble the 4 parts to a tile cane with the design you like the most.

It was hard, but I chose this design.

The tile cane after reduction.

Hope you will try this tutorial.

There are endless possibilities with this kind of cane and creating it is pure joy!

This tile cane is available at my Etsy shop