Making Pottery by Hand

You do not need to have a pottery wheel in order to make decorative and functional clay pottery. For hundreds of years pottery has been created with only a pair of hands and a little imagination. Great for simple or detailed craft projects, pair of hands, a ball of clay, and a few simple tools is all that is required. Remember to set your finished creations aside for a couple of days before attempting to fire it.

Pinch Pot

You begin with a ball of clay, usually about a one-pound ball for beginners. Knead the clay to remove any air bubbles and roll it into a cylinder shape. Using your thumb, begin by making an indention in the center of the top of the cylinder. When you have created an indention about two-thirds the depth of the cylinder, begin pinching the clay between your finger and thumb, depressing the clay and enlarging the pot as you go. When the opening of the pot gets big enough for you to put your hand inside, use a paddle or a wooden spoon to slap the outside of the pot, as you continue to enlarge it, to smooth the clay and help firm it. Continue to work the clay in this manner until you obtain the size and shape of pot you prefer.

Flat Coils

To create a pot using the flat coil method, begin by rolling your clay out on a flat surface until it is about ½ inch thick. Using a paring knife, cut the clay into 1-inch strips. You will build the pot from the bottom up. Cut a circle of clay about 4 inches in diameter and place it on a flat smooth surface. Take the first strip of clay and place it around the circle of clay. This begins the sides of the pot. Continue to place strips of clay, one on top of the other, slightly overlapping the strips, around the pot. You may want to increase the size of the pot with each strip to increase the size of the pot. Once you have obtained the size and shape pot you want, you will begin sealing, firming and smoothing the coils. Use a wet sponge to moisten the outside of the pot. Use the paddle to slap and shape the coils into a smooth, firm surface. Use a slightly less moist sponge to smooth the inside of the pot.

Slab Pots

Slab pots are created using a slab of clay. Roll the clay out on a flat surface until it is about ¼ inch thick. Use a ribbed car mat, coated with cornstarch, to create textures on the clay by placing the clay over the mat and rolling it evenly with a rolling pin. Turn the mat over and remove it from the clay. Turn the mat 90 degrees and repeat the process. Again, turn the piece over and remove the mat. Do this to each side of the clay. Cut the clay into a large 8-inch square. Now, cut a 2 inch square out of each corner of the clay, and discard. Wet the edges of each cutout and bring the sides up together to form a corner. Repeat with the other 3 corners. Make a small coil of clay and using your fingers, press it firmly into the inner and outer corners of the pot seams to seal it. Be careful not to press into the designs of the clay.