It’s probably no surprise that we don’t recommend wearing your Sunday best when making pottery. Because no matter how careful you are, the clay will end up on your clothes somehow.
In most cases you can easily wash out the clay, but unfortunately it doesn’t always work. So a good rule of thumb is to wear clothes that you wouldn’t be too upset about if you couldn’t get them clean. And there are more tips we can give you.
Choose comfort
When you’re sitting at the pottery wheel, you sit with your legs open and your elbows pressed against your body. If your clothes are too tight or otherwise uncomfortable, it will severely restrict your freedom of movement. So it’s better to wear loose or flexible clothing, like leggings or sweatpants, that allow you to move freely.
For footwear comfort is equally important, after all you control the pedal with your foot. So just like behind the wheel of your car, it’s best not to wear heels or platform shoes.
Keep your hands out of your sleeves
Whether you are sitting at the pottery wheel or doing some handbuilding, your hands should be free. So wear short sleeves or roll up your sleeves well before you get started. That way you can put all of your focus on the clay.
Beware: some clothes have annoying sleeves that just won’t stay rolled up. So avoid those!
Wear an apron
As we already mentioned, there’s a good chance that clay will get on your clothes. To avoid that, many potters wear aprons. This also allows you to wipe your hands on your thighs whenever you want. Not a bad bonus!
But not every apron is suitable for pottery. If you are sitting at a pottery wheel, you need an apron with a slit in the middle. That way both legs are properly protected by your apron. This pottery apron is a winner, and it also supports charity!
Avoid possible distractions
Long hair or dangling earrings can be a real distraction when throwing. Because you’re usually bending forward over your pottery wheel. It’s also better to take off rings and bracelets. Not only will you have to clean them every time you’re done with the clay, they could also be damaged. For example, clay that has a lot of grog in it can cause softer materials such as gold to wear out over time.
Most potters also tend to keep their nails rather short. Because with long nails, you might unintentionally scratch your work. Although if you truly can’t say goodbye to your long nails: where there’s a will there’s a way.
There you have it, these were our main tips for you. Now you’re all set to enjoy the clay to the fullest!
