Do-It-Yourself/Pottery

Coiling technique

One popular technique when constructing pottery is the coiling technique. Here is a simply overview of how to construct a pot using this technique.

Squeezing the clay into a coil or rolling between your hands are two ways to make coils. This technique can be difficult to make a smooth, round coil because of the uneven pressure from your hands and fingers.
When hand rolling coils, use a smooth surface, spreading your hands to apply even pressure. Gently roll the clay back and forth.
Roll the coils so that they are a little thicker than a pencil, then stack the coils one on top of another.
For strength, force the clay together on the inside of the piece. Use you finger and scrape the top coil onto the coil underneath it.
When smoothing out the inside of the piece, hold your other hand on the outside so you do not damage what you have completed already.
If you want the top level, gently turn your piece over and lightly tap it on a smooth surface.
When you are finished with your piece, let it dry slowly: the grooves in the piece are weak spots and if they dry too quickly they will crack.