Twenty-Four Cakes is the visual follow through and reimagining of an abandoned short story of the same title written by American author and poet, Sylvia Plath. The story is reflective of Plath’s own internal struggles and resulting coping mechanisms. The protagonist, a housewife torn between running away and ending her life, chooses to instead bake twenty-four cakes in a single day. Plath herself was an avid baker who often used baking as a means to connect with the physical world, gain a sense of control over her surroundings, and find comfort amongst her deep anxieties. While seemingly contradictory to a woman so critical to feminist literature, baking was very much part of her creative process. Fiber techniques, as historically female-dominated an art form as baking, are used here to visually execute Plath’s forgotten story, and to shed a colorful light on the often underappreciated task and crafts wherein we often find solace and comfort. Each cake is replicated or inspired by photographs and illustrations of actual desserts used in old advertisements and recipe books pervasive in the 1950’s and 60’s. While some more intriguing than appetizing in appearance, each cake is appealing in its meticulous execution, be it in yarn or confection.






























