{"id":6238,"date":"2009-10-17T03:12:46","date_gmt":"2009-10-17T10:12:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/?p=6238"},"modified":"2009-10-17T10:57:20","modified_gmt":"2009-10-17T17:57:20","slug":"making-polymer-clay-canes-dinner-plate-size","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beadsandbeading.com\/blog\/making-polymer-clay-canes-dinner-plate-size\/6238\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Polymer Clay Canes the Size of a Dinner Plate, Not My Style"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Flower<\/p>\n

<\/span>“I love how you make your canes small. That way if it doesn’t work out you don’t use up too much clay.” ~Catalina<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span>I was going give this post a title that asks if size really matters… but then changed my mind in the end to avoid attracting the wrong audience, if you know what I mean ;-)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/em> This post is about size though. You probably have noticed by now that I don’t demonstrate how to make polymer clay canes as large as dinner plates, as some other instructors do. In fact most of the canes I teach are pretty small, using a total of 1 pack of clay or less.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are a few reasons for this. First of all, I can’t bear to use all my clay in one design, no matter how great it is. Who really needs a five year supply of a pink and green flowers any ways? Besides what if you make a mistake with the colors? What a shame to use up all your good clay on a color combination that doesn’t work!<\/span><\/p>\n

Another thing is, over time you will get better at making canes. Although I do like the old cane in the photo, I know how to make it more evenly now, than I did when I made it. Which makes me glad that this cane doesn’t have that much left of it and I need not worry about it too much.<\/span><\/p>\n

Variety is also a reason for making smaller canes. Let’s face it, a big part of the fun of making canes is making lots of different kinds of beads with them. If your original cane is an enormous 10 pound cane, you’re going to want to use up some of that $130 investment making beads with it… that is if you’re not in the business of selling canes… which if you are, then you can ignore this advice. Now 3 million beads all with the same pattern could get a\u00a0 little dull, unless you are extremely creative with the use of it.<\/span><\/p>\n

So my advice is when you’re a beginner at making polymer clay canes, start out by keeping them relatively small. Big enough to get the detail you are looking for, but small enough so the commitment is not too big.<\/span><\/p>\n

A general rule of thumb for me is a cane about an inch across and an inch long. Up to two inches wide if it’s especially detailed and two inches long if you know you’re going to want a lot of it. But not bigger unless you have an order for a whole whack of the same bead or cane. Then in that case you are not a beginner.<\/span><\/p>\n

And try to save sections of your cane at various stages of reducing. This will give you more options and variety from the same cane.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to see some examples of the small polymer clay canes I teach in video tutorials check out these links:<\/span><\/p>\n