Things You'll Need:
- Pottery
- Wheel
- Water
- Cloth or sponge
- Wooden knife tool
- Needle tool
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Step 1
Shape the pottery and keep it moist and spinning on the wheel. Complete all of the following techniques with the pot in this position. Keep the pot moist by using a cloth or sponge dipped in water and drip or squeezed it over the completed pot.
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Step 2
Hold a pottery wooden knife tool in your dominant hand, close to bottom of the pot angle toward the point where edge of pot meets the wheel.
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Step 3
Place the wood tool on the edge against bottom edge of the pot to remove excess clay from around the base. The tool should almost touch the pot and the technique is to ensure a thinner base and a clear path for removing the pot from the wheel.
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Step 4
Turn the tool in toward the base of the pot and make contact. Hold the knife tool in this position applying slight pressure so the movement of the wheel trims any heavy spots on the base. Remember to keep your elbows close to the body and steady the tool with the fingers of opposing hand.
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Step 5
Use the blunt edge of knife tool to create an indented line any place on the pot as a decoration.
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Step 6
Use a needle tool to trim the top of the pot by holding the needle straight at the pot with both hands before poking decisively into clay lip. The movement of the wheel will slice the needle tool through the clay.
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Step 7
Remove the excess clay from the lip by flicking the needle tool slightly with the dominant wrist to move the needle with the clay ring now attached away from the pot and discard.
