One common method for rolling polymer clay canes, as described in the reference, involves stacking layers and rolling them tightly, similar to creating a "jellyroll."
Rolling a Jellyroll Polymer Clay Cane
The Jellyroll technique is a popular way to create simple, yet effective, patterns in polymer clay canes. It typically involves layering contrasting colors of clay and then rolling them tightly together.
Here are the steps based on the provided reference:
- Prepare Your Clay Sheets: Start with at least two sheets of polymer clay, often in contrasting colors.
- Stack Layers: Stack one sheet on top of the other. You can use more layers for different effects, but this method begins with two.
- Trim Edges: Trim the edges of the stacked sheets to create clean, straight sides and ensure a rectangular shape.
- Condition and Lengthen: Roll through the medium setting (4) on your pasta machine to lengthen it. This step thins and stretches the stacked sheets into a longer rectangle, preparing it for rolling.
- Begin Rolling: Roll your rectangular sheet from one short end to the other like a snail shell. This is the core action of forming the cane.
- Facilitate Rolling: Start with a small lip to make rolling easier. Folding over a small edge at the beginning provides a solid starting point to roll the rest of the sheet around.
After rolling, you will have a log of clay with concentric layers inside. This is the basic cane. You can then reduce this cane to a smaller diameter to create repeatable slices with your pattern.
Essential Tools
While the reference specifically mentions a pasta machine, other tools are helpful:
- Clay: Polymer clay in desired colors.
- Pasta Machine: Used for conditioning, mixing, and rolling sheets to even thickness (Setting 4 mentioned in the reference).
- Craft Knife or Blade: For trimming edges.
- Work Surface: A clean, smooth surface like tile or glass.
Rolling canes is a fundamental skill in polymer clay crafting, allowing for intricate patterns to be embedded within the clay itself. The Jellyroll method provides a straightforward entry point into this technique.