We know lots of you will be missing the feeling of getting stuck into clay. So we wanted to offer something to satisfy that pottery urge! We have created Coil Pot Kits to post to members for free! - they'll contain 500g of clay and a handy step-by-step guide to making a coil pot at home. This page also has a very handy video tutorial (above) from our very own Clay Lady - ceramics contributor and teacher Caroline Rhys-Lewis and a simple written step-by-step below the form.
Those who are confident with clay are welcome to make their own coil pot forms, but we'd love for your to send us photos of your work in programme and to fire and display the pieces as a group when the Makerspace is back in action!
If you'd like us to send you a Coil Pot Kit please and fill out the form below. Once you receive you clay, come back to this page and watch Caroline’s tutorial, and read the instructions below the form to help you.
Useful tips before starting:
This Coil Pot Challenge is designed for you to make your pot using everyday objects; there is no need to purchase items especially to make your pot.
You will need: your clay, an old teatowel, a small sharp object for cutting the clay, a fork, and a bowl of water.The plastic bag provided with the clay can be used to cover your pot, to prevent it drying out if you’d like to make over a longer period. Make sure the pot is fully covered with no holes for air to get in.
DRY CLAY: You will remember from your member inductions, our warning about the dangers of dry clay! Dry clay can cause harmful dust - please ensure your workspace, tools and any clothes with clay on are cleaned with water straight after use. Clay must be wet to clean, please do not hoover or sweep dry clay. Depending on the weather, you might prefer to make the pot in your garden.
Coil Pot Challenge: Step by Step instructions
Think about the shape you want to make – the size of the base of your pot, as well as the height & overall shape of your pot. You might want to find an object such as a drink coaster to use as a guide for the size of your base.
Wedge/knead your clay. If it’s a little dry, add a few sprinkles of water to it.
Take a small amount of clay to make your base. Roll it out onto an old tea towel, using a rolling pin.
Place your base guide on top of the rolled out clay. Use a sharp tool (such as a potters needle or a small knife) to cut out your base shape.
Take a small amount of clay to make your first coil. Squeeze the clay to compress it into a long snake-like form. You can also roll the clay with your hands to create longer, thinner coils – spread your fingers wide when rolling the clay, going from one end to the other. The coil should be a consistent thickness.
Go back to your base shape and score/scratch the top edges using your sharp tool (a fork works really well here too!)
Score/scratch the top of the coil in the same way as the base shape and wet the score marks a little.
Place the scored edge of the coil on top of your base shape, until your coil ends join together. Cut off any excess.
Repeat the process of making and scoring a coil. You also want to score the top of the coil you have already attached to the base.
Place the new coil on top of your first coil, joining the edges together.
*Important tip - make sure the joins of the coils don’t line up with each other. Similar to brickwork – if the joins are staggered, the form of the pot is stronger*
Now you have two coils on your pot, smooth the joins together on the inside and outside. Smooth the clay with your thumb or a rib tool if you have one. Continue smoothing until the gaps in the coils are no longer visible. Also make sure to smooth the gap between the first coil and the base shape.
Repeat this process of making coils, attaching coils and smoothing the gaps, until you have your desired finished shape.
Make sure all joins and gaps are smoothed.
You may wish to add handles and decoration.
Leave your pot to dry slowly.
Check out Caroline’s video for coil pot variations and samples of her work!