Celtic Knot Cane

Part II:  Forming the Knot

Step 17

Use some of the excess gray clay to create a 1 inch by 1 inch cube, and 2 logs that are 1 inch in diameter.  These pieces will need to be as high as your stacks are.

Step 18

Now you should have seven pieces that look like this.  These pieces will be used to form the shape of a knot.

Step 19

Now we'll begin to form the knot.  Place the stacks around the cube as shown.

Step 20

Cut the 2 round logs in half lengthwise straight down the center.

Step 21

This should yield 4 half-circles that look like this.

Step 22

Place the half-circles around the cane as shown in this picture.

Step 23

Begin bending the stacks around the half-circles. In this picture, I've completed one and am working on the second.  Work slowly and carefully.  Try not to distort the black clay as you work.  You will have to hold the rest of the cane together as you bend each piece around. 

Step 24

Here is what the knot should look like once you've finished shaping all four stacks.

Step 25

Now we'll begin packing and wrapping the cane.  Roll out another log of gray clay so that it is 4 inches long.

Step 26

Pinch along the top of the log to make it triangular.  Then, cut it into four 1-inch sections.

Step 27

Place those sections into the gaps of the cane as shown in this picture.

Step 28

Roll out more gray clay with the pasta machine and begin filling-in around the cane with strips of clay.  In this picture I am cutting four 3-inch strips.  See next picture.

Step 29

Place these strips between the wedges, around the corners of the cane.

Step 30

Now the cane should look like this.

Step 31

Next, cut out 1-inch sections in a similar fashion.

Step 32

Place these over the wedges to further fill-in the gap.

Step 33

Now the cane should look like this.  You may need to do more or less filling-in, depending upon how the shape of your cane turned out.  Fill in the gaps enough so that the overall shape is rounded-out before moving on to the next step.  

Step 34

Roll out a strip of gray clay that is long enough to wrap all the way around the cane.  Trim one edge of the strip.  Place the cane on it and begin rolling it up.

Step 35

Roll until the strip meets itself on the other end.  Trim off the excess.

Step 36

Bring the edges of the strip together until they meet. 

Step 37

Smooth the seam.  Repeat Steps 34-37 if you would like a thicker border around your cane. 

Step 38

Now the cane should look like this.  Allow it to rest for a while before moving on to Part III.

Part III: Reducing the Cane

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