Making Wheel Thrown Mugs: Workshop Highlights
Watch the complete workshop: 90-Minute Mug Making Workshop - Throwing, Handles & Key Techniques
There's something special about a well-crafted pottery mug: the way it feels in your hands, how the lip meets your mouth, the comfortable weight of a good handle. In my recent 90-minute workshop, I shared the techniques that make the difference between a basic cylinder and a mug people love using.
This article highlights the key insights, but I encourage you to watch the full video to see these techniques in action, especially the hand movements and timing that are easier to show than describe.
Getting Started: Clay and Setup
For a 12-ounce mug, I use about 1.15 pounds of clay to account for shrinkage. Here's something many potters don't realize: your piece does 50% of its shrinking between wet and bone dry, not during firing.
I prefer bats with slight absorption (MDF or speedball) over plastic when I want pieces to dry evenly. For same-day trimming, plastic works fine.
The Foundation: Creating the Right Bottom
The secret to a great mug starts with the bottom. I open about a quarter-inch into the wheel head, then immediately create a gentle curve using my favorite Mud Tools #2 rib.
The key technique: Hold the rib at a slight angle. Don't scrape the clay, let it flow underneath. This creates that "little baby bowl" curve that makes stirring comfortable and gives your mug character from the start.
Wall Building: The Three-Pull Approach
I aim for three pulls to complete most mugs. More pulls oversaturate the clay and shrink your working window. When pulling up, focus on going straight—if you tend to flare out accidentally, you're likely applying too much inside pressure.
The Chiseled Lip Game-Changer
Instead of just compressing the rim, I create an angled lip that transforms the drinking experience. After each pull, I establish this inward angle, then soften only the very top edge.
This technique gets detailed coverage in the workshop video—it's one of those details where seeing the hand movements makes all the difference.
Handle Success: Timing and Technique
Handles make or break a mug, literally. Most failures happen here, so timing is everything.
The Carrot
I start with a tapered coil (thick at top, slim at bottom), then slice it lengthwise for that strong-but-elegant almond profile. The workshop shows the full pulling demonstration, including how to test if you can keep going (flip it upside down and if it only droops one degree, continue pulling).
Attachment Timing
Attach when your mug trims with those chocolate-ribbon shavings and feels cool to the touch. Score generously, cut your handle ends at angles to maintain the natural curve, and avoid coming above the rim line.
Critical first 24 hours: Cover both pieces together. The handle wants to dry faster due to surface area, but uneven drying causes those dreaded attachment cracks.
Cracks Happen: The Excavation Fix
Handle cracks happen to everyone. Instead of using slip fillers, try the excavation method I demonstrate in the workshop: carefully remove clay down to where the crack ends (usually superficial), making it look intentional. This works because 85-95% of your connection is typically still sound.
Production Mindset: Work Smarter
Many production potters don't trim mugs at all. By throwing efficiently and establishing your bottom curve early, you can minimize or eliminate trimming steps. Every step saved is time, energy, and fewer chances for something to go wrong.
For a decorative alternative to trimming, try a wiggle wire when removing from the wheel. Just make sure your form is solid first.
Simple Details That Matter
Height: My 12-ounce mugs typically finish around 4-4.5 inches
Surface: Light throwing rings add handmade character
Balance: Consider how it feels when full, not just empty
Ergonomics: Test with different hand sizes
Troubleshooting Quick Fixes
Flaring walls: Reduce inside pressure, let outside finger lead
Inconsistent thickness: Slow down, focus on even pressure
Handle attachment issues: Better scoring, proper timing, 24-hour covering
Keep Experimenting
Every potter develops their own proportions and style. Try throwing five mugs with subtle variations, or challenge yourself to replicate a favorite commercial mug to understand proportions.
Remember: pottery is forgiving. Every "failure" teaches you something about clay, timing, or technique. The best teachers are the mugs you use daily.
These highlights just scratch the surface of the 90-minute workshop. The complete video shows every technique in detail, including the subtle timing and hand positions that make these methods work. You'll also see real-time problem-solving and Q&A responses that can save you hours of trial and error.
Watch the full workshop: 90-Minute Mug Making Workshop - Throwing, Handles & Key Techniques
