The Worst DIY I've Ever Done..Trying A POTTERY WHEEL For The First Time.. 

Are you left handed? You might have the wheel spinning in the wrong direction, it's surprising how much of a difference this makes. Which ever is your dominant hand you want the wheel spinning towards it and use that hand to push in and rest it on the bowl of the wheel. This gives you stability. To centre the clay, make that arm as stiff as possible as you gently push inwards and cup the clay with your other hand. You also need full speed for centering, the speed definitely helps, but you might get sprayed with water. Go slower when shaping. The reason you're ending up with blobs on top is you are squeezing too hard or pushing the heel of your hand in underneath. Also make sure your hands don't get too dry, the clay will stick to them. Throwing isn't easy, especially without a teacher, you didn't do too bad for your first attempt :)

Just a little tip: when you cut the previous creation out of the wheel there should be a thin layer of clay left and leaving it actually helps the next chunk of clay stick to the wheel.

OK I did this for three years in high school here are some tips that help me. 1: start off with more clay then you think you’ll need for the project. You will lose about 30 to 40% in between your fingers when you’re new. Also don’t add more clay to the wheel after you started. That can form air pockets in between the original clay and what you add later. 2: in your non-dominant hand you can keep a small strip of sponge it will help lessen the amount of goop all over your hands. 3: don’t skip pulling the clay up and down. Helps eliminate air pockets. Air pockets will explode when you fire the pottery. 4: Leave the pottery walls of your pottery thicker than you think you want them to be. Around 50%-100% thicker. After you let it air dry for a bit and it firms up you could go in with the tools and slowly shave off the excess clay. Then with the moist sponge you could erase all the shaving marks. This keeps the walls from of your pottery from collapsing. 5: save all your clay scraps this includes all the goopy water and stuff you washed off your hands into a water bowl. If you let it sit overnight you could drain the water the clay settles to the bottom. Don’t know if this will help.

Tips: - Literally throw the clay agains the wheel to make it stick. The momentum really adds to the grab. - Throwing isn't so using lots of force with your hands as it is keeping your elbows stable. Pushing your elbows into your legs or sides will keep your hands far more steady. The only time I really press is when my hands basically hug the clay to help make it even and centered. Evening coning is more so guiding the clay rather than forcing it. - Dip the heck out of your hands into the water. If your hands don't glide, nothing will come out great. - It's harder to go slow than it is fast, as far as the spinning goes. Mistakes happen all the time in throwing, but they look like it was meant to happen because the mistake spins all the way through and you just work with it. When it goes slow, your mistake sticks to that one section since you stop entirely. - Always get the wire for cutting. Whether that's to take it off the wheel or to even out the top, it's essential. That being said, it's best to even out with a sort of molding knife while it is spinning. Overall, I haven't done tons of spinning, I'm by no means a pro. But back in my first year of high school... (9 years ago?) my teacher managed to get all of us to make a decent bowl in a day. There really is a difference watching someone physically. You can see everything way better and they can help you with pressure. So, for your first try without being able to ask questions, you did pretty good!

I would enjoy a part 2 pottery video. I was considering learning to do this but see already I would start with a hands on class to see how it went before investing in all the supplies. Thank you for sharing this!

Ah Chloe I feel you!! I started pottery a while ago and it is still something I’m getting familiar with but I definitely recommend going to a potters club because they have so many tips that aren’t in every video. You did absolutely incredible!!

Choleee! Please do a part 2!! I was reading all the comments and there's a ton of good advice! I love it. I recommend watching AmandaRachLees pottery vlog from last week and then give it another go! I love your videos so much! I want to see your hard work paying off! I'm sure I'd be on your level my first try too! Have you ever tried a little meditation? I think connecting with your breath could really help you with this. Anyway, I'd like to see you try again! Please

Okay I haven't made ceramics since middle school but I also tend to retain info like an encyclopedia so: 1. Knead your clay before you use it; the same way you'd knead bread dough. This helps get rid of any large air pockets, and will also warm the clay to your body temp, therefore making it easier to use and manipulate. 2. SPONGE. Use this to clean your wheel in between pieces, clean your hands during, and add *way more* water while you're making your piece. We used to keep small gallon-pails next to the wheel because you need a lot of water in the spinning process. 2a. You want the clay to be slippery, it needs to stay wet. If it's too dry, the friction between your hands and the clay will pull the clay off the wheel, and when you're trying to form it, it will cause the clay to catch and basically collapse. You don't want any puddles, but you want the clay to slide through your hands easily. 3. It's not the best position health-wise, but you *want* to be hunched over the wheel because you need your whole body to make anything, basically. Elbows pressed into your hips/sides will keep your arms and hands steady. 4. Just *S L A M* the clay down as close to center as you can. Force is your friend. You can center it better after you get it stuck to the wheel. 5. Any clay you mess up or don't use, just keep it in the bag so it doesn't dry out. You can use it over and over again. Any clay in your water bucket will also settle to the bottom and can be used as slip* or left to dry _a little bit_ and added to your scraps. *Slip is basically what you're getting on your hands. It's super wet, goopy clay that is usually used to "glue" two pieces together, or to add decoration to a piece.

Chloe getting mad at things and questioning her decisions is a whole mood..😅

I wanna see a colab where a pottery artists walks you through it. Learning is also entertaining 😃

Kneading the clay first will get it in a workable mode. Sometimes right off the block it's too stiff to manipulate. Keep practicing you'll get the pot of your dreams 😁

As someone who has done pottery for years... this is painful to watch. BUT... I love you. 1. Kneed the clay to get air out of it... 2. Center the clay. Smack it down in the middle.. as you spin the wheel about medium fast push the clay slowly with both your palms toward the center until it stops wobbling or else everything will always pull and be wonkey...

I highly recommend Earth Nation Ceramics' beginner playlist. It goes in a lot of detail but it's super helpful! Some basics that will help: 1. Your lap needs to be level with the wheel and both legs at 90° (i recommend using a brick for the foot that isn't using the pedal to even your legs) Also you need to be sitting right up against the wheel to have more control and stability. 2. Stabilizing your arms/elbows on your legs helps control your movements, hence why #1 is important to have your legs even. 3. Wedge your clay before putting on the wheel. This gets air pockets out. (Tutorial video in playlist i mentioned earlier) 4. Smack the clay on to the wheel hard and then press down to get it really stuck. You want a clean dry wheel for this. 5. Start with fist sized amount of clay and the first thing you should learn to throw is a cylinder as its the base of almost all forms. And starting with fist sized you help manage how much you can control at first. 6. You are using too much water. Water makes the clay soft which will cause it to flop and tear more easily. You only want to use enough water so your hands don't stick. 7. To keep things even try focusing your work zone in one area on the wheel. Such as 5 o'clock if you're right handed and 7 if you're left. (If you're left you need to flip the direction your wheel spins. You need to work with the direction the wheel spins or you're fighting against it) 8. If you're touching the clay, the wheel needs to be moving otherwise the clay becomes uneven. Also the wheel needs to spin faster then your hands are moving. Because if you move your hands before the wheel completes a rotation, then whatever you did becomes uneven. 9. To add on to the last point remove your hands very slowly before slowing or stopping the wheel. Not doing this makes the clay un-center and cause unevenness. 10. You need to focus on one step at a time or it just makes the following step so much harder. So for now just practice centering clay. Then making a hole. Then clawing open. Then pulling. After pulling is just finishing steps like cleaning up the lip, base, and adding any shape or design. I hope these tips helped!

100% would love to see a part 2- I’ve always wanted to try this and would be excited to find out how it works sans training

I really want to see Chloe grow and start a journey of pottery making to the point where she can effectively mold clay someday.

I’m in a ceramics class at my university right now.. you’re supposed to dampen the wheel with the sponge.. form the clay into a ball and throw it down in the center. 🙂

watch The Great British Pottery Throwdown, then you can see what hard work pottery can be, even if your good at it. Cantering is important. Clay is reusable. Good luck

If you don't recreate the Ghost scene with ya dog in this video, I will feel great shame.

I’d love a second video! And a pot painting video too?? Watching you learn new skills and seeing you be realistic and honest about the struggles of each one is so interesting

I would love to see a part 2! I love pottery videos but so rarely see people starting with little to no experience which is far more relatable and giving me an idea of a realistic first start as I hope to try pottery out myself some day it is nice to see as I feel I am learning along with you. Plus I want to see how much you improve and finally make that vase you want!

Wait, two hours? You already improved so much in two hours!! Don't give yourself such a hard time. I see so many good tips and tricks in the comments, clearly, we all want to see you try again!

I took a throwing class last year at my university. It took an entire week just to learn to center properly. Once you get past the frustration stage of throwing and it just clicks, it's super fun and relaxing. Also, ALWAYS WEDGE YOUR CLAY!

My mom's a professional potter and I've been surrounded by clay and Pottery wheels my whole life but can imagine I would be the exact same as you Chloe when it comes to doing it on my own!! It takes lots of time, patience and practice to do wheel thrown Pottery! Would love to see a part 2!

Please don’t give up.. throughout this video i can see that you made so much progress in such little time

Make some that are wobbly/wonky on purpose! Perfect for hanging bracelets or necklaces over the edge decoratively. You've got this Chloe! Keep going! ❤️

Part 2 is a must

Chloe... you're too hard on yourself for trying this the first time. Especially since you're using a wheel. Using the wheel is very hard and takes practice. And YES, you can reuse clay. Also, you actually need a tool to cut the finished piece from the wheel, that way you won't disturb what you've done :)

I have a feeling this is one of those things where experience will be your best teacher. If you enjoyed making them, just keep at it.

oh…oh..oh wow…I can already sense the chaotic energy in this video and I haven’t even watched it yet-

You want the surface of your wheel to be at or a little below knee height. Pin your elbow against the inside of your leg, just up from your knee, and use your leg strength to keep your arm as still as possible. The first goal should always be centering the clay on the wheel. if it's not centered, then it will be very difficult to do anything else. Also, you're using too much water. you want just enough that the friction doesn't hurt your skin and you get slightly slippery clay, but not muddy.

This reminds me of when I took a ceramics class in high school. Chloe did a great job for her first time!

A few days ago, I watched a video by a someone with a channel named "Natasha Elle" in Singapore, where she went and had an in-person lesson at a ceramics school from an expert, and Ms. Elle had a lot of the same difficulty you had in this. The hands-on guidance seemed to make a difference though, to help her to feel how to keep the clay steady. The teacher showed Ms. Elle how to remove the piece at the end, using some sort of wire to cut it off the wheel.

I would love to see the honey pot idea come to life! I feel like that could be so cool and so your aesthetic

You were frustrated, I was thoroughly entertained 🤣 Thanks, Chloe.

I tried ceramics but I didn't do throwing. I do have a few tips though. 1- Yes, it is that messy. You will end up with clay everywhere. It drys out your hands really quickly so keep lotion nearby. 2- You can't just add more clay. You need to incorporate the clay together using a ram head method or shell method. 3- If you do end up firing it, make sure there's a hole if it's hollow in the middle. 4- A good thing about ceramics is you can reuse the material a lot. 5- Elbow your legs to create a triangle anchor. Then you can add more control and pressure instead of your arms being up in the air.

Watching this was a tiny bit painful but it's reminding me of when I took ceramics in high school and how much I liked it. I wish I had room for a wheel. Maybe someday :) Kneading the clay before putting it on the wheel might help you manipulate and center it easier!

A part two sounds excellent! I do love that you share your learning curve

It is just incredible how professionals make this look so easy, but for your first try you did a great job ❤️

Tip that I learned in college and in high school in ceramics classes is that the clay mirrors how you feel if your in a good mood it will turn out better if your mad the clay will feel it too also knead it like you would pizza dough and shape it into a cone shape then slap it in the middle of the wheel also use a good amount of water. Edit: chole, I’m in school to be a high school art teacher in ceramics. If you need any tips I’m here to help. Also have a towel on your lap for wiping your hands as needed and an apron. Because clay is every hard to get out of clothes when it drys and only use that towel when your using clay. It’s much easier to learn the wheel when you learn to do other stuff with the clay first like a coil pot and learning how to knead. Slab projects etc. Good luck

I'd love to see a part 2! I have absolutely no idea how to throw pottery, I've only ever worked with greenware, which is essentially pre-fired ceramics. And even that, the shop I got stuff from closed before I even learned to drive, and I'm 31 now so that was years and years ago. Honestly, I can't imagine this being easy, I know we're all our own worst critic but please don't be too hard on yourself. Learning something like this is probably not something you can manage in a reasonable time to appease the algorithm gods.

PLEASE do a part two!!! I was legit laughing so hard I was crying 😂. BTW considering that it was your first time properly trying pottery I think you actually did pretty well.

This might be my favorite video on all of RU-vid because it is the most accurate thing I’ve ever seen 😆 this is exactly what it was like trying the wheel for the first time! And I mean it’s fun, I like playing around with the wheel but I’ve never made a successful piece on it lol. I stick to hand building my clay pieces :)

I love watching you learn as you film; it inspires me to try things I've never done before.

Aw, don't be too hard on yourself. At least you're trying, and you are making progress. You're a beginner. I'm sure everyone who starts starts off this way. Just take your time and be patient with yourself. You've got this!

Its nice to see you uploading this even after not being satisfied with the results, id love to see more of this and see you learn ( even is it may be slower then you would like)

You cut the pice off with a wire that has a pice of something tied to either end so you have a good grip on the wire 👌

I would definitely love to see a part 2 of this. I'm sure you will eventually get it with practice and with some advice and I'm so down to watch you learn how to do it slowly even if it takes like 10 episodes!!

I love that the comments are vert helpful, would love to see a part 2 taking the tips into consideration!

Thank you for showing that even amazing artists like you sometimes fail. I’ll keep trying since you do

kneeding the claybefore throwing it really helped me when I first started off! Would love to see a part two!

Use one hand to shape it and the other to hold a wet sponge to the outside of your pot/vase. It'll help you not to make it so asymmetrical and wonky. I took a pottery class and that was how they had us shape it once you get past the initial lump stage.

Yes, please. Do a second part! Hope u can make your vase!!! 🥰

Yes for part 2. I loved it 😍

Would love to see another attempt at this using the great tips others have put here! I’ve been so curious to try a pottery wheel but haven’t had the opportunity yet … living vicariously through this video knowing I’d be just as frustrated 😉

Would love to see a part 2! So many people leaving great tips that will definitely help. Have fun with it lol

Part twoooo please! It was very fun to watch!!

Yes go Chloe! You can do it! We believe in you! ✨✨

When the top bit of your pot gets lacey and uneven you can just cut it off to look more even! Just turn the wheel on to a comfortable speed, and use a potters needle or a regular butter knife to cut the top part off while supporting the rim on the inside. Once you've cut it all the way around just lift it off with the tool or your hand. If it falls in or on the pot, just stop the wheel and carefully pick it out :)

YES we definitely want a part 2!

The best video ever seen ! Your are so brave ! Do please 2nd part !

Keep trying Chloe, I really enjoyed this video and would love to see another one!

Clay is one of the most difficult art mediums to work with. I am a ceramics artist and I don't usually throw my pieces -using a wheel - because the clay needs a lot of prep and keeping it centered is difficult for me. Instead, I hand build my pieces. Roll the clay out evenly and then proceed with building. A lot less stress involved. You did pretty good for a first try though. 🙂

Yes would love to see this as a series! Don’t be mad at yourself, it’s your first time and it’s incredibly hard, these potters make it look easy, but think how long it must’ve taken them to learn. I love your wonky bowls, paint them and use them with pride 😄🙂🦋💕

I watch pottery videos on Instagram, RU-vid and Twitch as it relaxes me. But this is a whole different mood. 🤣

A little tip from me to you but my pottery teacher always told us the clay should be shiny at all time meaning you need to use more water. When ever the clay goes matte that mean you need more water. Anyway love your vids their super entertaining ❤️

Entertainment at it’s finest! That was so fun to watch, please do a part two! Pottery looks fun and I want to try it now!

i am not much in pottery...but this was sooo fun to watch....I DEFINATLY WANT TO SEE PART TWO !!!!

I took a ceramics class in high school. I not only had the teacher and an advanced student friend helping when I was using the wheel. My little pot is way too thick but I still have it and the color it was fired with was awesome. Joni (my friend) gave me one of her projects and I have it in my kitchen. My first plate was beautiful and perfect but someone took it from the wrong drying rack for firing and it blew up. My second plate wasn't nearly as nice so it takes lots of practice. Don't be afraid to use water. You absolutely can reuse clay if it isn't dry. Slam your clay down on the wheel to adhere it, even harder then you did. Keep trying and go with very simple shapes at first until you get the hang of it.

When you ball the clay back up slam it on a table or counter top to get rid of air pockets, it will crack in the kiln if there are air pockets inside.

i loved claywork in school! Now I want to know, how you do with a wool spinning wheel

I’m in ceramic school right now and we just started making bowls your doing great pottery is a lot harder than people expect takes a lot of practice. At the beginning you literally gain new muscles because we don’t use them in day to day life.

You did so good for your first time. And the fact that you had a pottery wheel with a weird pedal placement makes that even more so. Also a lot of people don't get clean even tops just from their hands. They use a wire to slice off the upper bit to make an even top.

I absolutely loved watching you on the pottery wheel, you are so entertaining and despite not creating a vase you score 10/10 for entertainment and effort. I haven’t laughed so much in ages🤣 You need to do a part 2 and like the other person commented, try the wheel the opposite way as your left handed x love you xxx

It would be amazing to see a part two

Would love to see a part 2!

Kneed the clay like a dough, it eliminates air bubbles and gets a good consistency going. On a wheel you have better control using your thumbs rather than your index finger. Also I believe the first vase is actually made without a wheel, the neck looks like it was coiled and the bottom looks like a pinch pot to me. Id like to see you try and hand sculpt the vase in another video

Chloe, watch the Great Pottery Throw Down on HBO max! It’s super fascinating to see the history behind British pottery and all of the different techniques they use.

BC I took a pottery class at my local university. It was lots of fun. The wheel is extremely difficult! You've done great for your first time.😊

100% want to see a part two, maybe with a better quality turn table ? Seemed you were having issues with the peddle 😞 I think you’ve done fantastic for your first attempt 😊😊 keep trying you’ll make a beautiful vase I have no doubt ❤️

I think we are always expecting to be able to do things right off the bat. Love how you don’t give up. There are some great tips in the comments. Someone I would recommend JonThePotter.

To centre the clay, completely clean and dry the centre of the wheel before slamming the clay down in the centre. (Yours was still a bit to wet and messy). You have to firmly place your arms against the frame and don’t let them move, that way you brace your body more. Show the clay who is boss. Add some water, brace you arms so that the clay can’t rock about and keep your pressure even. Bringing the neck up for the vase is hard and takes a lot of practice and technic. The image you used looked like they had used the coiling technic, because you could see where they’d blended the coils. Good luck, you’ll get there.xx

Definitely try again! I want to see another video!

You got way further than I would have. You’ve got tenacity! Love to see another go.

Yes part two!!

PART 2!!! PLEASE!

I love you so much. This looks like a super fun video! Thanks for your art tips

we need a part 2! i know you are not a quitter and just cause something doesn't come easy, does not mean you can't succeed with it!!

You should make a part 2 where u just sculpt without the wheel I think that would be fun

If you want to reuse the wet clay leave it for a few days to dry out a bit then it will be less sticky and flimsy 😊 and would love to see a pt 2 😄

I love to see you paint them or try to do more details

Firstly you gotta knead the clay before throwing it so u won't have to apply that much strength and neither there would be so much clay on your hands Secondly, u gotta put water at the base before throwing the clay so as to keep it still, later you can abosorb the water at the bottom using the sponge. It would be much easier than just smoothing out the clay at the bottom.

Chloe, have you tried crocheting? I have recently learnt how but I can only do basic squares at the moment. Seeing as you're trying this you might want to do a video on other things too. Just a suggestion, no pressure. Hope all is well for you and your doggos.

Tip: you have to first make the clay into a ball then slap it onto the wheel. Then you have to keep your hands on either side (3 and 9 if you think of it like a clock) and bang it while the wheel is going, this is without water. Then you have to rly make sure the clay is centered because it’s not only the ball of clay being centered on the wheel but also the clay itself, this will effect the rest of your bowl. You have to go slow and steady when opening the hole, and when you open up the hole put one hand on the other and pull straight back. Then to make the bowl taller you have to throw it which means you put one hand on the outside and one on the inside put pressure and pull up. Also don’t be stingy with the water it helps a lot. Whenever you’re putting pressure make sure that it’s even pressure throughout. Overall you did pretty good I think centering and making sure to bang on the clay (which is also called coning) is the most important for you!

Can't wait for part 2 ☺️☺️

Would love to watch your pottery journey lol 💖✨

Please try again! I loved the video! 🥰

Do part two, this was hella entertaining

YESSSS DO PART 2 I believe in you I for sure know I wouldn’t be able to do this hah!

love it, especially as we had literally just discussed getting one

Ceramics Concentration major here! Biggest tip I was ever given? Always start out slow when beginning wheel throwing. And yes, a LOT of arm strength.