What you'll need

Pottery Starter Kit from noah
Plastic sheet or cling film
Protective clothing
Latex gloves (if sensitive to clay)

Shop the kit

How to make it

7 steps

Step 1 Knead the clay

Knead the clay for around 1 minute to align the particles and make it easier to work with.

Step 2 Create the jar body

The body of the jar can be made using any method but given that I want a medium-sized vessel, the fastest way is through pinching. I'm aiming for a squat pot with relatively thick walls.

Step 3 Form the gallery

The gallery is the part of the body where the lid sits. In its most basic form, it's simply a tapered rim that's taller on the outside and falls at a 45 degree angle inwards so that the lid is held in place.

Step 4 Create a matching lid

Make a smaller, shallow pinchpot so that there's a nice curved top which will contrast with the straight body. Using the loop tool, remove any excess clay until the lid is roughly circular and slightly smaller than the rim of the body.

Step 5 Add a handle

Add something to grip so you can use the jar. Make sure this isn't too flimsy so that you can pick up the lid without it breaking off. Slipping and scoring gives the strongest possible connection.

Step 6 Finish & dry

Decorate the body if you'd like - carve a pattern into the body using the loop tool. Fettle the piece by smoothing off the rims using a damp sponge. Leave the piece to dry for 2-3 days until it turns white.

Step 7 Paint & varnish

After leaving the piece to dry for a couple of days, it's time to paint and varnish the piece. Paint in several thin layers, letting each coat dry for around 15 minutes. Once you're happy with the painting, give it a varnish for a glossy finish.

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