How to Make a Clay Pot

  1. Take the clay out of the box and warm it by kneading it with your hands. You'll want to minimize the addition of air pockets and bubbles. Try to be aware when you are folding over the clay that you are creating air pockets. A great trick to eliminate air pockets is to keep the clay in a round shape, and keep throwing the clay back and forth between your hands. You can also throw the clay on a hard surface (like a table) multiple times
  2. the clay is warm and pliable, roll it into a long "snake." the diameter of the "snake" will determine the thickness of your pot's walls. A good size for a first pot would be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. The "snake" should be about 12-24" long, and of uniform thickness.
  3. with one end of your clay "snake." create a circle. It should look like a coil of rope at this point. The size of the circle will be the base of your pot, so create this according to what use you have in mind for the pot.
  4. Begin on the sides. Take the end of your "snake" and begin coiling it on top of your pot base. Keep coiling up until your pot is at the height you desire. Be sure to smooth one side of the pot as you go (most people smooth the inside, but you can do the outside or both). If you don't smooth it, the pot will likely fall apart. The laws of physics apply here; a small base will not support a huge pot. Now that your pot is built, you'll either need to allow it to air dry or bake it in your oven. Follow your clay manufacturer's instructions on how to do this.(Or if it is the right kind of clay you can fire it in your kiln.)

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