2. Ribbed Pinch Bowl Set

What This Idea Means

Pinch bowls are foundational hand-building projects. By adding vertical ribs or flutes along the outer walls, you turn simple nesting bowls into elegant modern kitchen accessories or jewelry dishes.

How to Make It

  1. Divide clay into small, equal-sized spheres.
  2. Insert your thumb into the center of a sphere without pushing all the way through.
  3. Gently pinch the clay upward and outward between thumb and fingers, rotating continuously to form a bowl.
  4. Use a wooden modelling tool or your fingers to press vertical grooves around the exterior.
  5. Smooth the upper rim with a damp sponge.

Tips and Variations

  • Tip: Work slowly to keep the wall thickness uniform ($\frac{1}{4}$ inch) so the bowl dries evenly.
  • Variation: Make a set of three nesting sizes and glaze each in a slightly different shade of the same color palette.