Make a Pinch Pot

• 1). Take a hand-sized ball of clay and roll it in your hands into a sphere. Place the clay on a flat, newspaper-covered surface and press it slightly to flatten the bottom.
  
  
• 2). Place one thumb on the center of the ball and press it into the clay; press your thumb near the bottom of the clay, but don't push through to the other side.
  
  
• 3). Place your other thumb inside of the hole and put your fingers on the outside of the clay. Pull the hole outward slightly to make it wider. Hold the clay in one hand and thin the sides by squeezing the clay between your thumb and fingers in an upward motion. Rotate the clay so the sides are thinned evenly.
  
  

Add Height with the Coil Method

• 1). Take a small piece of clay and roll it in your hands into a sphere. Place the clay on a flat, newspaper-covered surface and roll it back and forth using the palms of your hands. Move your hands along the coil as it gets longer to maintain an even width. Make the coil the same width as the sides of the pinch pot.
  
  
• 2). Place the coil on the rim of the pinch pot, cut off the extra length and pinch the ends together. Lightly press the coil into the rim . Place your thumb on the inside of the coil and your pointer finger on the outside of the coil; hold the pot steady with your other hand. Squeeze the coil between your thumb and pointer finger and press the clay of the coil into the clay of the pinch pot. Make the connection seamless and even along the circumference of the pinch pot.
  
  
• 3). Widen the pinch pot into a bowl shape using the coils. Place the coils on the outside of the rim and integrate the coil clay into the pinch pot clay using the same technique described in Step 2. Gradually add coils to the bowl until it is the height and width you prefer.
  
  
• 4). Let the bowl dry thoroughly.
  
  

Firing and Glazing the Bowl

• 1). Take the bowl to a community center that fires pottery.
  
  
• 2). Take a piece of sandpaper and smooth lumps and protrusions off of the bowl. Dampen a sponge and clean the clay dust off of the bowl.
  
  
• 3). Glaze the bowl. You can use your own glaze or the glaze offered at the community center. Don't get glaze on the bottom of the bowl.
  
  
• 4). Fire the bowl again.
  
  
• 5). Clean the bowl with soap and water.