- 1). Knead the clay with your hands until it is flexible and pliable. Mold the clay into a circular lump; place it in the middle of the pottery wheel. Dampen the outside of the clay with water to make it easier to slide between your fingers.
- 2). Start to turn the pottery wheel with your feet. Press your thumb into the middle of the clay to begin to make the inside of the pot. Gradually widen the inside of the pot with your fingers as you continue to widen the hole. Make sure the bottom of the pot is about ½- or 1/3-inch thick.
- 3). Slowly pull the walls of the pot up by grabbing the sides of the pot between your thumb and forefinger. Gradually pull the clay in an upward motion. Take care not to exert too much pressure on the clay or the walls will become too thin to hold the weight of the clay. Keep the walls of the clay pot at least ¼-inch thick.
- 4). Use one hand to shape the outside of the pot with your fingers. Press the back side of your fingers against the outside edges of the pot to change the shape of the pot. If you want the base of the pot to be wider than the top, use your fingers to slowly push the top walls inward to create a smaller top.
- 5). Remove the pot carefully from the potter's wheel holding a length of fine wire between your hands and pulling it under the pot. Trim or add texture to the pot with a small wire or stick. Allow the clay to dry for 24 hours or several days, depending on the clay you used. Some clay must be fired in a kiln before it can fully cure.
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