How to Make a Coil Pot

Here’s a simple step-by-step way to make a coil pot in ceramics class:


1. Prepare your clay
- Wedge the clay to remove air bubbles.
- Keep a small cup of water nearby, but don’t use too much.

2. Make the base
- Roll a ball of clay.
- Flatten it into a round slab about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
- Cut the slab into the shape you want for the bottom, usually a circle.
Coil pot example, cylindrical with coils exposed.This coil pot stands on a circular base which leads the potter to add coils in a circular fashion, building a cylindrical cup.

3. Roll the coils
- Take small pieces of clay and roll them on the table with your hands.
- Make long snake-like coils.
- Try to keep them even in thickness.

4. Score and slip
- Scratch the edge of the base where the coil will go.
- Scratch one side of the coil too.
- Add slip (wet clay mixture) to the scored parts to help them stick.

5. Attach the first coil
- Place the coil around the edge of the base.
- Gently press it on.
- Blend it slightly with your fingers or a tool so it joins securely.

6. Build the walls
- Add more coils on top, one at a time.
- Score and slip between each layer.
- Press them together gently.
- Stack coils straight up for a cylinder, outward for a bowl shape, or inward to narrow the top.

Green and white coil vase 10 inches high.Leaving the coils revealed can be part of your design. Blending the coils on the interior (with slip and a blending stick) is an option for strengthening the coil attachments, one to the other.

7. Smooth the pot
- Blend the coils together on the inside, outside, or both, depending on the look you want.
- Use your fingers, a rib tool, or a wooden tool.
- Leave some coil texture if you want a decorative style.

8. Shape and refine
- Check that the walls are even.
- Smooth cracks with a little slip.
- Trim extra clay if needed.
- Make sure the bottom is attached well.

9. Decorate
- Add designs by carving, pressing textures, or adding small clay shapes.
- Do this while the clay is still leather-hard or soft enough to work with.

10. Let it dry
- Let the pot dry slowly and evenly.
- Cover loosely with plastic if needed so it doesn’t crack.

11. Fire and glaze
- Once bone dry, the pot is bisque fired in the kiln.
- Then glaze it if your class is doing glazing.
- Fire it again after glazing.

12. Show your teacher

- Before you take your project home, let your teacher see it for feedback and or a grade for your class.

Tips:
- Don’t make the walls too thick or too thin.
- Rotate the pot as you work.
- If the clay gets too dry, it may crack.
- If it gets too wet, it may slump.