The Afghan Cane: A Granny Square Blanket in Polymer Clay

The Afghan Cane consists of sixteen polymer clay "granny squares" assembled in a grid, much like a crocheted afghan would be. Unlike the crocheted version, though, we don't have to create sixteen individual granny squares to make a colorful blanket. Through the magic of polymer color blends, we can generate a multitude of differently-colored squares with a single cane!

REQUIRED SKILLS

If you are comfortable with the Skinner blend technique and can reduce and re-assemble millefiori canes, you can do this project.

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

5 packages of clay (black, white, and three colors)
pasta machine
clay blade
optional cutters and extruder

TOPICS COVERED

How to choose colors that will look nice together and provide the necessary contrast
How to make a partial blend
Anatomy of a crocheted granny square
How to build a polymer cane that mimics the look of a granny square, and re-assemble it to create a 16-square "afghan"
Ideas for varying the look of the afghan through borders or different color choices

Fully illustrated with sixty photos.