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Pinch Pot

The pinch pot is one of the oldest and simplest pottery techniques, used for thousands of years to make bowls, cups, and vessels. It's also how I begun my own pottery journey! By shaping clay with just your fingers, you can create forms that feel timeless, organic, and unmistakably handmade.

Difficulty: Beginner

Time: 10-35 minutes

Technique: Handbuilding

What You Need

Clay ball

Sponge & water

Wooden modeling tool

Trimming tool (circle hoop tool)

Step-by-Step

Roll a Smooth Ball

Start with a lump of clay about the size of a tennis ball. Roll it in your hands or on the table until it’s smooth and even.
Thumb the Center

Press your thumb into the middle of the ball, leaving at least ⅜ inch (1 cm) of clay at the base so it doesn’t collapse.
Pinch & Rotate

Place your thumb inside and fingers outside, gently pinching as you rotate the clay. Work evenly around the pot, gradually thinning and raising the walls.
Shape the Form

Keep the wall thickness consistent — about ¼ inch (6 mm). Adjust the rim and curve of the pot as you go.
Refine the Base

If the bottom feels too thick, trim away excess using the hoop tool, careful not to poke through. Or if too thin, reinforce with a small coil blended in.
Smooth & Finish

Use a sponge or modeling tool to refine the surface. Leave natural pinch marks for texture, or smooth completely for a clean look.
Add Handles & Decorations

Time to decorate! Add handles and any decorations you'd like. For best results let the piece firm up slightly. Check out our other guides on decorating.

Studio Secrets

→ Steady pinching: Pinch lightly but consistently — don’t squeeze too hard in one spot or the wall will thin unevenly.

→ Keep rotating: Turning the pot as you pinch ensures even walls and a balanced form.

→ Control rim drying: Rims dry fastest and can crack — cover them if you need to pause.

→ Combine techniques: Add coils to increase height or experiment with attaching multiple pinch pots together.

Helpful Fixes

Walls too thin

Smooth and reinforce with a small coil blended in.

Base cracking while drying

Likely too thin — next time, leave at least 1 cm thickness in the bottom.

Uneven rim

Trim with a knife tool or compress gently with fingers. Best at leatherhard.

Pot slumping

If walls are too thin, let the piece stiffen up a little before continuing.

Quick Checklist

Start with a smooth ball of clay

Press thumb in center (leave ~1 cm base)

Pinch & rotate evenly for ~¼ inch walls

Shape rim and form gradually

Smooth or leave natural texture

Atelier Home Pottery Techniques