Week 7 Readings

4. Three home-friendly forming methods (tableware + vases)

This course focuses on methods suitable for beginners and small spaces.

Method A: Pinch (best for bowls and small cups)

1. Make a ball of clay
2. Press thumb into center; pinch walls evenly
3. Rotate as you pinch; check thickness
4. Compress rim gently to reduce cracking

Best for: small bowls, tea cups, practice forms
Common risk: uneven thickness → cracking

Method B: Coil (best for vases)

1. Make coils of consistent thickness
2. Build walls in stages; join coils with score + slip
3. Compress and smooth from inside and outside
4. Let the form stiffen between stages to prevent collapse

Best for: vases, jars, taller forms
Common risk: weak joins → cracks along coil seams

Method C: Slab (best for plates, cups, and angular vases)

1. Roll slab evenly (use guides if possible)
2. Cut shapes; allow slabs to firm up to “leather-hard”
3. Score + slip joins; compress seams
4. Support shapes while drying to reduce warping

Best for: small plates, slab cups, geometric vases
Common risk: warping if slab dries unevenly