slab constructed cupslab constructed cupFlatten a lump of clay into a long shape as you will Flatten a lump of clay into a long shape as you will be rolling out a slab long enough to wrap around a be rolling out a slab long enough to wrap around a tube form.tube form.

Note: finished cup (left) was made using this Note: finished cup (left) was made using this technique. Resulting cups’ surface may be technique. Resulting cups’ surface may be glazed a variety of ways. This lesson is about glazed a variety of ways. This lesson is about construction and does not include the construction and does not include the glazing process.glazing process.

Create a long slab using a rolling pin. You will need Create a long slab using a rolling pin. You will need a fairly long slab as it will be wrapped around a a fairly long slab as it will be wrapped around a cardboard cylinder to take its shape. Be careful to cardboard cylinder to take its shape. Be careful to maintain uniform thickness.maintain uniform thickness.

Way off to one side, cut one lengthwise edge so Way off to one side, cut one lengthwise edge so that it is straight. Leave yourself plenty of clay to that it is straight. Leave yourself plenty of clay to make your cup.make your cup.

Choose one of the ends and carefully cut a 90 Choose one of the ends and carefully cut a 90 degree angle (also called a “right angle”). Make this degree angle (also called a “right angle”). Make this cut near to the end of the slab to leave plenty of cut near to the end of the slab to leave plenty of clay to work with. clay to work with.

Measure and create two marks of equal distance Measure and create two marks of equal distance from the long side of the slab. These will enable you from the long side of the slab. These will enable you to cut a parallel line. This distance will become the to cut a parallel line. This distance will become the height of the cup. height of the cup.

After double-checking your measurements for After double-checking your measurements for accuracy, align your ruler with the two reference accuracy, align your ruler with the two reference marks and cut the parallel line. Cut the entire marks and cut the parallel line. Cut the entire length of the slab.length of the slab.

At this point, the slab should look like a long At this point, the slab should look like a long rectangle with an unfinished side to one end.rectangle with an unfinished side to one end.

Wrap a piece of paper around a cardboard tube Wrap a piece of paper around a cardboard tube form (not too tight or too loose) and tape together. form (not too tight or too loose) and tape together. The paper will prevent the clay cylinder from The paper will prevent the clay cylinder from sticking to the cardboard. Be sure not to tape the sticking to the cardboard. Be sure not to tape the paper to the tube.paper to the tube.

Roll the slab onto the paper-covered tube. Align the Roll the slab onto the paper-covered tube. Align the bottom of the tube and the edge of the slab so they bottom of the tube and the edge of the slab so they are even.are even.

Carefully observe where the two ends of the slab Carefully observe where the two ends of the slab meet. Rather than making them overlap, cut off the meet. Rather than making them overlap, cut off the excess slab so that both sides align well together.excess slab so that both sides align well together.

Score and slip the two ends of the slab together to Score and slip the two ends of the slab together to form a clay cylinder.form a clay cylinder.

After connecting the two sides, take time to After connecting the two sides, take time to carefully smooth out the seam so it doesn’t show. carefully smooth out the seam so it doesn’t show.

Carefully Carefully measure the measure the bottom on bottom on another slab another slab and lightly and lightly trace a circle. trace a circle. Score the Score the inside of the inside of the circle and the circle and the bottom edge bottom edge of the cup.of the cup.

Attach the cup’s bottom with Attach the cup’s bottom with slip.slip.

Cut off the excess clay from the bottom and smooth Cut off the excess clay from the bottom and smooth out the seam as you did earlier when creating the out the seam as you did earlier when creating the cylinder. Use great care because you don’t want cylinder. Use great care because you don’t want your cup to leak.your cup to leak.

Roll a coil to use for a Roll a coil to use for a handle.handle.

Score and slip the handle onto the cup. You may Score and slip the handle onto the cup. You may want to attach the handle to the place where you want to attach the handle to the place where you had a seam to better hide whatever indication of a had a seam to better hide whatever indication of a seam remains. seam remains.

Form the handle so that it fits comfortably in your Form the handle so that it fits comfortably in your hand. The handle should not be too large or too hand. The handle should not be too large or too small and should be attached securely. A small and should be attached securely. A comfortable handle makes all the difference to the comfortable handle makes all the difference to the user when drinking from the finished cup.user when drinking from the finished cup.

Remove the cardboard tube from the cup by sliding Remove the cardboard tube from the cup by sliding it out of the paper that surrounded it. If the cup is it out of the paper that surrounded it. If the cup is too flimsy or delicate to safely remove the paper, it too flimsy or delicate to safely remove the paper, it may remain during the drying process. The tube may remain during the drying process. The tube must be removed so that the cup will not shatter must be removed so that the cup will not shatter when it dries and shrinks (the tube will not shrink or when it dries and shrinks (the tube will not shrink or give way).give way).

Smooth out the edge of the cup as that will be the Smooth out the edge of the cup as that will be the surface that makes contact with the user’s lips. surface that makes contact with the user’s lips. Check for quality and make needed repairs or Check for quality and make needed repairs or adjustments.adjustments.