Pottery tips to get the best experience and result
These tips I've learnt the hard way, so I'm more than happy to share my knowledge! More often than not, your first pottery piece will be an abstract number! No worries, we love quirky things, all my work is so imperfect and that's why I love it. If you are really unhappy with your first attempt though, no worries, that's the best thing about clay, it can be re-used time and time again!
Making slip:
Dry a flat thin piece of clay until its bone dry then break it up and mix in a little bit of water. I also use little bits of tissue and vinegar and blend it all together to make a super slip that bonds super effectively (mainly for pieces I want to fire in a kiln and make them ceramic), but you can just use the clay and water for air-dry decorate pieces.
The best surface to work on so that the clay doesn't stick to the surface:@modeletto.store Slippppp slop slap for your pots #pottery #potterytiktok #ceramics #handmadepottery #airdrypottery #potterytips ♬ original sound - Krissy - Modeletto
Use a wooden chopping board or dish cloth / tea towel underneath as your surface to work on.
Fix air-bubbles 🫧@modeletto.store Linen, tea towel, dish cloth of chopping board will do the trick! #pottery #potterytiktok #potterytips #handmadepottery ♬ original sound - Krissy - Modeletto
After you roll out your slab, if air-bubbles form, poke them using your pointy tool then squish the air out with your finger. Scrape over the surface with a plastic card or rubber/metal rib to remove the hole and compress the clay.
@modeletto.store Replying to @A compressing with a plastic card or metal rib #pottery #potterytiktok #ceramics #handmadepottery #airdryclay ♬ original sound - tate mcrae
How to wedge clay back into a ball if you want to start again or you have offcuts and you want to make something else:
There are two ways that you can wedge clay! Spiral (my personal favourite) and Rams head.
@modeletto.store Spiral wedging is my fave 🐚 #pottery #potterytips #potterytiktok #ceramics #handmadepottery #airdryclay ♬ original sound - Krissy - Modeletto
@modeletto.store Rams head 🐑 clay wedging technique for ya #pottery #potterytiktok #airdryclay #handmadepottery #potterytips ♬ original sound - Krissy - Modeletto
Clay shrinks 10% when dry and 15% when fired in a kiln:
So when you are making pieces to hold other items like a candle stick - For example you need to make the pottery piece 10% bigger than the circumference of your candle stick
@modeletto.store DIY candalarbrum time at your place. #pottery #potterytiktok #fyp #handmadepottery #candlemaking #tiktokdiy ♬ original sound - livies hq ❤️
Try this trick for decorative pieces if you want to display fresh flowers:
Use a jar inside your decorative, air-dry pieces to hold water. Make sure that you leave enough room / allowance for the vase to shrink when it's dry so that the jar can fit in. Test it when you are making and make the base / hole of your pot bigger than the jar.
How to fix a broken piece (on an air-dry piece only):@modeletto.store I can make my own valentines day gift 🙋🏽♀️🥀 join us this Valentines Day at Daily Bread & you can make this air-dry vase with me. Tickets live soon! Dont live in AK? You can join in from home too using one of our at-home pottery kits. @Solitude @GOLDIE @Bringterry #pottery #potterytiktok #mentalhealtgevent #handmadepottery #valentinesvase ♬ Can I Call You Rose? - Thee Sacred Souls
You can't use this technique on mug handles or pieces that you fire in a kiln to make them ceramic. Just the decorative ones. Use our sealer as a glue to attach the pieces back together or use super glue.
@modeletto.store Fixed you!! NB. Cant use this technique on mug handles or pieces that you fire in a kiln to make them ceramic. Just the decorative ones 😉 #pottery #potterytiktok #airdryclay #handmadepottery #potteeytips ♬ Daisy Lofi - fiksiadit
How to fix a piece that's too thin or has a crack in it when making ☺️:
Add a little extra clay and patch the thin bit / crack up then blend with a tool and and smooth with a damp sponge.
Cover your work to slow dry:@modeletto.store This is how you fix thin bits on your pinch pots - add a little extra clay and patch this thin bit / crack up & blend #pottery #potterytiktok #ceramics #handmadepottery ♬ Distance - TWO LANES
Cover your work in plastic (like a bin liner or bread bag) for a few days to a week to let it slow dry to try and prevent cracking. After you remove the bag let the clay dry until it is bone dry (not cold and is a light colour)
@modeletto.store No more cracked pots for us ☺️ #pottery #potterytiktok #ceramics #handmadepottery #airdrypottery #potterytips ♬ original sound - Krissy - Modeletto
How to fix a piece that gets a crack a day after making:
Check your pots the next day, and if a crack has formed, you can try and fix it using this technique - etch into the crack using any tool and then smooth with your finger or a damp paint brush. Cover again with plastic and slow dry for a week. You can check the crack the next day and repeat this technique if it comes back.
@modeletto.store NB: the clay must be still moist/ leather hard. This one was drying under plastic for a night and a crack formed! But I fixed it and then continued to slow dry with plastic over for a week. Hope these tips help.
@modeletto.store NB: the clay must be still moist/ leather hard. This one was drying under plastic for a night and a crack formed! But I fixed it and then continued to slow dry with pllastic over for a week. Hope these tips help. #pottery #potterytiktok #ceramics #handmadepottery #airdryclay #potterytips ♬ original sound - ur mom <3
Caring for your air-dry pottery when it's finished:
- Do not keep your creation outside (as it might get wet)
- If you are using your piece to store jewellery or fruit, it will need a wipe down now and then. Just use a dry (slightly damp cloth to wipe it out. Do not wash it or put it in the dishwasher.
How to soak clay and turn it back into a workable medium should you not like your piece when it's fully dry or if your clay becomes hard in its pack:
Put your clay into a plastic bag. Add a little water, tie up the bag and pop the bag into a bowl full of water. The pressure of the water around the bag helps to push the water in the bag into the clay. Leave overnight then wedge it back to a block.
How to fix a broken ceramic piece that's been fired in a kiln:@modeletto.store Messy but oddly satisfying and fun! Now who wants to recycle an entire massive bucket with me next! #pottery #potterytiktok #ceramics #handmadepottery #potterytips #recycle ♬ original sound - Krissy - Modeletto
Use super glue to mend your broken pieces! Not suitable for mug handles.
@modeletto.store Saved my butter dish 🧈 #pottery #potterytiktok #ceramics #handmadepottery #potterytips ♬ original sound - Krissy - Modeletto
