Create Pottery at Home with Self Hardening Clay

Making items with clay is fun. Not everyone has access to a kiln to bake the clay items they make so an easy and safe way to create pottery is to use clay that hardens as it dries. Self hardening clay is produced by many companies. You may purchase self hardening clay at most craft stores. This is a good way to try your hand at pottery.

While you are working with the clay you may want to store the unused clay in a plastic or glass jar or tub. Moisten a paper towel or cloth slightly to cover the balls of softened clay to keep them moist while you are working.

Materials:

Self hardening clay

Water

Paper towels

Clay tools or plastic knife

Paper, pencil, scissors (to make a paper pattern)

Cutting board or smooth wooden board

The easiest hand made pottery is crafted by three basic methods: coil, slab or pinch. By using one of these methods you can create a piece of pottery.

Coil

Cut or break off a piece of clay. Roll and knead the clay to soften it. Divide the clay into several smaller balls and use one to roll between your hands to form an length of rope like clay. You will repeat this process with the other balls of clay that you prepared to form you pottery piece. By circling the clay rope you can form a bowl, cup, basket or other shape. As you coil the clay rope to form your clay object moisten the clay slightly with a small amount of water for the clay to adhere where it touches. You may dampen your fingers when the piece is complete and moisten these areas or even smooth the coils slightly.

Slab

Cut or break off a piece of clay. Roll and knead the clay to soften it. Mash the clay with your hands to form a flat, free form piece of clay. Lay to clay on a hard surface such as a cutting board used just for clay work. Roll the clay with a rolling pin used just for clay work. Roll the clay as you would a piece of dough to make a pie crust. Roll the clay to a thickness of approximately 1/2 to1/4 inch thick. Place paper pattern pieces that you have made for your object on the clay. Cut around the pattern pieces with a knife or clay tool used only for clay work. Moisten your fingers and lightly moisten the edges of clay to be joined. Assemble the object pressing lightly as you join the pieces.

Pinch

Cut or break off a piece of clay. Roll and knead the clay to soften it. Roll the clay into a ball between your hands. Push your thumb into the center of the clay ball and then push the ball onto a hard surface to form a flat bottom. Place your thumb into the center of the ball and use your fingers on the same hand to pinch the clay into a bowl shape. Pinch around and around between your thumb and fingers to form the bowl shape. When the bowl is complete you may form a scalloped edge by pinching the top and pulling down as you work around the edges or your may form a smooth surface around the top.

You may choose to make a slab basket or a pinch pot and then form a braided coil handle to attach. Be creative and form small designs to adhere to the objects you have created.

When you are satisfied with your pottery pieces set them aside in an area where they will be undisturbed as they dry. Dry the clay pieces in an area out of directly sunlight and allow them to dry slowly until completely dry. The pottery pieces may be painted. An acrylic spray finish may be added if desired.