Paper templates, Advanced level

Thirty-six Advanced slab pottery templates

More sheets, more evenings, and sometimes a trip to the hardware store. If a piece needs hardware, the pack names the parts and draws how they go through the clay. If it's all angles, every edge carries the angle to cut it.

New: some of these haven’t been built yet

You can download any of them with confidence. So far every template built and every template in progress has come out 100 percent perfect, and the same will likely be true for the rest.

Every template starts out in my New Pattern Program, marked NEW, until someone builds it in clay and it checks out. Each one should be sound and work as drawn, so use them at your own discretion and be ready to adjust on the fly if a project needs it. Pivoting mid-build is part of the fun of pottery.

Members: be the first to show me one fully assembled and I’ll fire that piece free, with your name on its tile for good. See which templates are still up for grabs.

Made one? Text it to the studio or tag @theclayhole on Instagram.

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A skill path, built in order

Four Ways to Make a Spout Bundle

A spout is where a lot of good pots go wrong. Here are four ways to make one, in order: cut and pushed out, folded into a beak, a separate cone on a teapot, then pulled out of the pot's own corner.

Four templates, Advanced to Expert.

$42.70$61saves $18.30

See what’s in it
Advanced

Every Advanced template

Every size is a fired size, at 12 percent shrinkage, and every one has a free sample to flip through before you buy.

Cards per row
A small speckled charcoal six-sided stoneware table lamp lit on a round side table, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 11 The Slab Table Lamp A tapered six-sided lamp body with the socket hole and the cord hole drawn in, built to take a standard lamp kit.
  • Advanced
  • three hours
  • 2 sheets, 7 pages
8 9/16 in tall to the top plate, 4 13/16 in across the base
An arch-topped stoneware mantel clock in matte oatmeal glaze with pressed hour dots, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 12 The Mantel Clock An arch-topped mantel clock with the shaft hole and the twelve hour marks on the template, built around a standard quartz movement.
  • Advanced
  • two and a half hours
  • 2 sheets, 7 pages
Requires extra hardware purchaseface 5 1/4 in wide, 5 1/2 in tall, 2 3/16 in deep on its base
A stoneware wren house with sage green walls, a brown roof and a wren on the ridge, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 13 The Wren House A gabled birdhouse built to the nest box numbers wrens and chickadees use, with a roof that lifts off for the clean-out.
  • Advanced
  • three hours, long dry
  • 3 sheets, 8 pages
4 3/8 in square, 8 1/2 in to the peak, entry 1 1/8 in
A square stoneware teapot in glossy teal with a cone spout and strap handle, beside a cup, from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 14 The Square Teapot A four-cup slab teapot with a cone spout whose landing curve is worked out, a lid that locates on a flange, and a strap handle.
  • Advanced
  • four hours
  • 3 sheets, 7 pages
about 32 oz, 4 3/8 in square, 4 3/8 in tall with the lid
A tall glossy white stoneware pitcher with a pinched spout and a strap handle, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 15 The Quart Pitcher A tall tapered pitcher built from two fan-shaped halves, with a cut spout tongue and a strap handle.
  • Advanced
  • two and a half hours
  • 3 sheets, 7 pages
about 35 oz, 7 1/2 in tall, 4 3/16 in across the foot
A stoneware origami fox in burnt orange and cream, built from faceted slabs with a Clay Hole paper template Paper template 40 The Origami Fox A sitting fox built from 34 flat slab facets, like a folded paper fox, its tail wrapped round to its front paws.
  • Advanced
  • 4 hours at the table, plus a slow dry
  • 4 sheets, 9 pages
7 5/16 in tall to the ear tips, 5 5/16 in x 5 7/16 in with its tail
Faceted dinner plate, a twelve-sided teal well in a speckled cream rim, on oak, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 48 The Dinner Plate A 10 1/2 inch dinner plate with a twelve-sided faceted well inside a round rim.
  • Advanced
  • 3 hours over two sittings, plus two to three weeks of drying
  • 3 sheets, 9 pages
10 1/2 in across, 1 1/16 in tall
Faceted salad serving bowl of greens, teal facets below a wide cream lip, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 53 The Salad Serving Bowl A 10 1/2 inch salad serving bowl, twelve facets below and a wide round lip above.
  • Advanced
  • 3 1/2 hours over two sittings, plus drying
  • 3 sheets, 9 pages
about 2 1/2 quarts, 3 7/8 in tall, 10 1/2 in across
A faceted stoneware origami owl in honey amber with a cream face, on an oak bookshelf, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 59 The Origami Owl An upright owl built from 33 flat slab facets, like a folded paper owl, with ear tufts, folded wings and pressed eyes.
  • Advanced
  • 4 hours at the table, plus a slow dry
  • 3 sheets, 8 pages
7 5/8 in tall to the ear tips, 4 11/16 in x 4 5/8 in across
Faceted stoneware origami sea turtle, teal shell and sandy flippers, on driftwood, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 60 The Origami Sea Turtle A low sea turtle built from 36 flat slab facets, like a folded paper turtle, with a seven-sided faceted shell and four flippers.
  • Advanced
  • 4 hours at the table, plus a slow dry
  • 4 sheets, 9 pages
8 9/16 in long, 11 1/4 in across the flippers and 2 1/8 in tall
A black stoneware paper towel stand holding a white roll on a quartz kitchen counter, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 67 The Jumbo Paper Towel Stand An upright paper towel stand for jumbo rolls up to 7 inches across, its roll riding an inch above the base.
  • Advanced
  • 3 hours over two sittings, plus a slow dry
  • 3 sheets, 8 pages
14 3/16 in tall, 8 in across the base, takes rolls up to 7 in across and 11 1/4 in tall
A cream stoneware river stone charcuterie board with crackers, cheese, jam and olives, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 68 The River Stone Charcuterie Board A floating river stone board with a curved cracker rack and two sunken wells.
  • Advanced
  • 5 hours, two sittings
  • 7 sheets, 13 pages
18 in long, 8 3/4 in wide, 3 1/4 in to the top of the cracker rack
A navy stoneware house number plaque with raised white digits 2618 on a stucco wall, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 70 The House Number Sign A raised-digit house number plaque for 1 to 5 digits, every digit 0 to 9 included, 4 in tall.
  • Advanced
  • 3 hours over two sittings, plus a slow flat dry
  • 5 sheets, 12 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase4 in digits on a plaque 6 1/2 in tall and 5 1/2 to 17 1/2 in long
A charcoal stoneware water pitcher with a slotted fin handle and a folded spout, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 74 The Fin Handle Pitcher A straight 51 ounce water pitcher with a flat fin handle and a folded beak spout.
  • Advanced
  • three hours over two sittings, plus drying
  • 3 sheets, 8 pages
about 51 oz, 8 1/4 in tall, 4 1/4 in across
Two charcoal and cream stoneware slow feeder pet bowls with swirl walls and kibble, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 75 The Slow Feeder Pet Bowls A slow feeder bowl for a dog and one for a cat, with three swirling walls.
  • Advanced
  • three hours a bowl over two sittings, plus a slow dry
  • 5 sheets, 11 pages
dog bowl 10 in across, cat bowl 7 7/16 in across
A green stoneware Christmas tree luminary with star cut-outs glowing from a tealight, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 84 The Faceted Tree Luminary An eight-sided Christmas tree that glows through columns of stars and diamonds, with a slab star on top.
  • Advanced
  • 4 hours over two sittings, plus drying
  • 4 sheets, 10 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase11 1/2 in tall to the star, 5 1/2 in across at the foot
A coral stoneware fish planter with white fins hanging on a porch, holding succulents, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 85 The Hanging Fish Planter A faceted fish that hangs head up on three cords, its open mouth a planter for an air plant or a small succulent.
  • Advanced
  • 4 hours over two sittings, plus drying
  • 3 sheets, 9 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase7 1/2 in long, 5 1/4 in across at the widest
Three-tier stacking stoneware strawberry tower in a pale blue glaze on a porch deck, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 89 The Stacking Strawberry Tower Three six-sided tiers that stack a half turn apart, nine strawberry plants in their corners, and a matching saucer.
  • Advanced
  • 90 minutes a tier and 45 for the saucer, plus drying
  • 4 sheets, 9 pages
each tier 6 5/8 in tall and 9 1/16 in across the rim, three stacked 19 15/16 in tall
A tall faceted origami cat in glossy black stoneware with amber ridges on a sideboard, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 111 The Origami Cat A tall, sleek sitting cat built from 17 flat slab pieces, like a folded paper cat, with a wide flat face, two tall pointed ears and a tail that lies out to one side with its tip turned up.
  • Advanced
  • 3 1/2 hours at the table, plus a slow dry
  • 4 sheets, 9 pages
11 in tall to the ear tips, 4 3/8 in across the head, 4 in x 5 3/4 in on the shelf with its tail
Faceted plum purple stoneware piggy bank with a coin slot, on a white dresser, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 113 The Geometric Piggy Bank A faceted low-poly piggy bank of 20 flat slab pieces, with a coin slot on top and a rubber stopper in the belly.
  • Advanced
  • 4 hours over two sittings
  • 5 sheets, 11 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase7 15/16 in long, 4 15/16 in wide and 5 13/16 in tall to the ear tips
Twisted six-sided salt and pepper shakers in cream and charcoal glazes on marble, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 116 The Twisted Salt and Pepper Set A mirror pair of six-sided shakers whose corners spiral like the olive oil bottle's, with holes sized to the grain and a plug in the base.
  • Advanced
  • 4 hours over two sittings, plus drying
  • 2 sheets, 8 pages
Requires extra hardware purchaseholds about 3 1/2 oz each, 4 5/8 in tall, 2 in across the flats
Glossy red oval stoneware crock with a fin handle and ledge handles on a towel, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 117 The Oval Crock A 3 quart oval baker with a flat lid on a hidden flange, a slotted fin handle and ledge handles for oven mitts.
  • Advanced
  • 3 hours over two sittings, plus a slow dry
  • 6 sheets, 12 pages
about 3 quarts, 9 in long, 6 1/2 in wide and 4 5/8 in tall to the rim
A tenmoku rice pot with a cone lid, steam and three arch handles on an oak table, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 118 The Rice Pot A low, wide rice pot with a crisp belly line, a cone lid with a steam hole and three arched strap handles.
  • Advanced
  • 3 1/2 hours over three sittings, plus drying
  • 3 sheets, 10 pages
holds about 2 1/4 qt, 4 3/16 in tall to the rim and 8 1/8 in across the belly
Stoneware tagine in glossy teal with a tall flared lid and flat slotted handles, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 119 The Tagine A 12 inch slab tagine: a wide dish with slotted handles and a tall flared lid with a knob and a steam hole.
  • Advanced
  • 4 1/2 hours over three sittings
  • 5 sheets, 11 pages
about 12 in across and 9 in tall with the lid on
Twisted cinnamon and sugar dredgers with strap handles in brown and pale blue glazes, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 121 The Twisted Dredgers A mirror pair of chubby twisted shakers with strap handles and honeycomb tops, sized for cinnamon and for sugar.
  • Advanced
  • 5 hours over two sittings, plus drying
  • 2 sheets, 8 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase4 in tall, 3 in across the flats, holds about 8 oz each
Charcoal stoneware backflow incense waterfall, smoke pouring down two terraces, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 122 The Backflow Incense Waterfall A stepped slab burner whose cone smoke pours out of a slot and spills down two terraces into a pond.
  • Advanced
  • 4 hours over two sittings, plus a slow dry
  • 4 sheets, 8 pages
6 3/4 in deep, 2 3/4 in wide and 5 5/8 in tall to the cup's rim,
Green stepped spice rack with folded zigzag fronts holding 18 glass spice jars, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 123 The Twisted Spice Rack A stepped countertop rack for eighteen square spice jars, its three fronts folded like the twisted oil bottle so the creases zigzag up the steps.
  • Advanced
  • 6 hours over three sittings, plus drying
  • 6 sheets, 12 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase11 1/4 in wide, 7 1/4 in deep, 4 1/4 in tall at the back
Teal twisted salt cellar stacked beside a burgundy one opened into three salt tiers, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 124 The Twisted Salt Cellar A lift-off stack of two or three twisted six-sided salt tiers with a knobbed lid, the corners spiraling up the whole stack.
  • Advanced
  • 5 hours over two sittings, plus drying
  • 2 sheets, 7 pages
3 1/2 in across the flats, 5 1/8 in tall with two tiers and 7 1/8 in with three, about 7 oz a tier
A cream cake stand and dome among frosted cupcakes on a marble counter, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 128 The Cake Stand A pedestal cake stand with a soft rolled lip and an hourglass foot, plus an optional lift-off dome.
  • Advanced
  • 4 1/2 hours over three sittings, 2 1/2 for the stand alone, plus drying
  • 7 sheets, 13 pages
11 in across the top and 5 in tall
Three nested sage green slab stoneware serving bowls with level rims on linen, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 129 The Nesting Serving Bowls Three slab serving bowls, 12, 9 1/2 and 7 inches across, whose rims sit level when they nest.
  • Advanced
  • 6 hours, one sitting per bowl
  • 8 sheets, 14 pages
about 12 in, 9 1/2 in and 7 in across
Blue-gray speckled 9x13 casserole of lasagna beside matching 7x11 and 6x9 bakers, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 130 The Nesting Casserole Dishes Three nesting bakers, 9 x 13, 7 x 11 and 6 x 9, soft rectangles with grip tab handles made for oven mitts.
  • Advanced
  • 3 hours a dish, plus drying
  • 12 sheets, 18 pages
9 x 13, 7 x 11 and 6 x 9 in inside the rim; 3, 2 3/4 and 2 1/2 in tall
Olive green twisted stoneware utensil canister full of wooden spoons and a whisk, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 131 The Twisted Utensil Canister A big six-sided crock for wooden spoons and whisks, its folded faces spiraling up three bands.
  • Advanced
  • 4 hours over two sittings, plus drying
  • 2 sheets, 6 pages
8 1/2 in tall and 5 1/2 in across the flats
Pale sky blue twisted stoneware butter dish with a zigzag folded cover, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 134 The Twisted Butter Dish A covered butter dish for a stick of butter: a long cover of zigzag folded faces with a six-sided knob, on a flat plate.
  • Advanced
  • 3 hours, plus drying
  • 2 sheets, 6 pages
the cover 6 1/2 in x 2 7/8 in x 2 7/8 in on a 7 5/8 in x 3 3/4 in plate
An amber brown stoneware udu drum on a wooden table beside a white mug, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 139 The Udu Drum A round clay pot drum that answers a slap on its side hole with a deep bloop, tuned to C with beeswax.
  • Advanced
  • 5 hours over two or three sittings, plus a week of drying
  • 3 sheets, 10 pages
a round pot drum 12 7/8 in tall and 10 11/16 in across
A teal stoneware box kalimba with 17 steel tines on a wooden table beside a white mug, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 140 The Kalimba A clay box kalimba with 17 steel tines in C and two wah holes in the back.
  • Advanced
  • 3 hours over two sittings, plus an hour to fit the tines after firing
  • 3 sheets, 10 pages
Requires extra hardware purchasea box 7 11/16 in long, 5 3/4 in across and 1 3/8 in deep
A blue stoneware game controller stand on an oak desk beside a black controller, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 155 The Game Controller Stand A hollow clay stand that holds any full-size game controller in a cradle.
  • Advanced
  • 2 1/2 hours over two sittings, plus drying
  • 2 sheets, 7 pages
4 3/16 in tall, 5 5/8 in long and 2 3/8 in wide
More bundles

Bundles that go with these

Each one is a handful of templates that belong together, for less than they cost one at a time.

Every level

Somewhere to go next

Beginner16 templatesOne or two sheets, no lids to fit. Intermediate33 templatesParts that have to fit each other. Advanced36 templates, this pageMore sheets, and sometimes hardware. Expert23 templatesMost of an afternoon, or a few sittings. Insane30 templatesDozens of pieces that fit exactly. Legendary5 templatesWorld monuments, built in sections. Kiln furniture4 templatesRacks and trees for firing beads.

Every paper template · Every bundle · Every collection

Sent as download links by email the moment the order goes through. Already a member? Log in, and five templates a month are free, one at a time.

Sent as download links by email the moment the order goes through. Already a member? Log in and five templates a month are free.
How a template works

Print, check, roll, cut, build

A paper template does one thing: it puts the same shape on the slab every time, at a size that was decided before the clay came out of the bag. That is how a set of four tumblers matches, and how a lid fits the box it was cut with.

1

Print at 100 percent

Actual size, never Fit to page. Plain copy paper works. Card stock survives a wet slab and can be used again.

2

Check the print

Every sheet carries a 1 inch square and a 5 centimeter bar. A ruler on the square settles whether the print is right. A piece bigger than a sheet prints in parts: match the triangles and tape them first.

3

Roll the slab

Most packs are drawn for 1/4 inch, and the cover says when one needs thicker. Let the slab firm up to soft leather hard, so it holds an edge and still bends.

4

Cut the count, then build

Lay the paper on the slab, cut straight down just outside the edge, bevel where the hatching says, and follow the numbered steps.

A string around your finger

The final lap is yours

I drew these so the fiddly part is already solved. The seams line up, the lid fits, and the piece comes out the size the pack says. That’s my part. Everything after the last seam belongs to you.

Press a texture into the slab before you cut it. Carve or pierce it at leather hard. Give it feet, a knob or a handle I never drew. Glaze it in something I would never pick in a million years. Two people can build the same template side by side and walk away with pieces that look nothing alike, and that’s exactly how it should go.

  • Texture the slab first
  • Carve, pierce or stamp
  • Add feet, knobs or handles
  • Sprigs and slip trailing
  • Glaze it your way

One thing to keep in mind: leave the bones alone. Thinning a wall that carries weight, cutting through a seam or piling extra clay on a lid changes how the piece holds together in the kiln. Decorate the skin as much as you like.

Members

Free templates, every single month

Print one tonight and bring it to your next session. I’d love to see what you make. If you are not a member yet, a membership includes five free templates a month along with the classes, the kilns, the glaze wall and everything else in the studio.

Log in. Members get five free a month See what a membership includes