How to Make the Base for a Clay Coil Pot

Clay pots are fun to create--even young children can make them. In order for a clay pot to hold any kind of liquid, it must have a solid base. With a few steps, you can make a good solid base for a clay coil pot.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Canvas
• Clay
• Rolling pin
• Round object
• Sharp knife
• Pin tool or sharp pencil
• Slip

1. Prepare a small batch of slip by mixing some clay and water together until it's a thin mud-like consistency.

2. Lay a piece of canvas on your work surface. Pinch off a piece of clay about the size of a baseball. Knead the piece of clay until there are no air bubbles in it.

3. Roll the clay with a rolling pin into a circular shape. It needs to be at least ½ inch thick and slightly over 3 inches in diameter. Make sure the thickness is even.

4. Place a three-inch circular object on top of the clay piece. Cut around the outside of the clay with a sharp knife. Set aside the excess clay.

5. Take the pin tool or a sharp pencil and make marks all around the circumference of the clay base. This step helps the coil adhere better to the flat base. Try not to score all the way through the clay base.

6. Roll some kneaded clay into a long, rope-like piece. This becomes the coil. Try to make the coil about the diameter of your finger.

7. Pinch off enough of the coil piece to go around the base of the clay pot. Brush some slip on the base, and then lay the coil of clay on top of the circle. Press the coil into the base as you work. Pinch the edges of the coil together. Continue adding coils until the pot is the desired size.