Paper templates, Insane level

Thirty Insane slab pottery templates

Built like a thousand piece puzzle, with the big patterns taped together from several sheets. A castle that rolls your dice, a dragon with pleated wings, a clock tower 35 inches tall. Each one is many evenings at the table.

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.

Log in. Members get five free a month
A skill path, built in order

Big Builds in Sections Bundle

Anything over 18 inches gets made in sections that fire on their own and stack after. This is how you learn it: a salt cellar, a strawberry tower, two pagodas and Big Ben. It's exactly what the Legendary monuments ask of you. Legendary not included.

Five templates, Advanced to Insane. Legendary not included.

$138.60$198saves $59.40

See what’s in it
Insane

Every Insane 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 faceted deep blue whale shark wall planter with white spots, made from The Clay Hole paper template, planted along its back Paper template 21 The Geometric Whale Shark A faceted whale shark wall planter 19 1/2 in long, built from 37 flat facets over six ribs.
  • Insane
  • 12 hours over 3 or 4 sittings, plus drying
  • 9 sheets, 15 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase19 1/2 in long, 6 15/16 in tall, 2 3/8 in off the wall, a planter of about 1 1/4 cups
A white stoneware marble run tower with teal channels spiraling down it, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 22 The Marble Run Tower A square tower with eight channels that spiral down it twice, each wrapping a corner like a rain gutter.
  • Insane
  • 14 hours over 4 or 5 sittings
  • 13 sheets, 19 pages
16 1/16 in tall, a 4 in tower in an 8 5/8 in tray
A stoneware chess set with six-sided pieces on a cream and charcoal board, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 23 The Chess Set A 19 1/2 inch board and 32 six-sided pieces, every body folded from one flat net.
  • Insane
  • 30 hours, over many sittings
  • 5 sheets, 12 pages
a 19 1/2 in board with 2 1/4 in squares, and 32 pieces from 2 in to 4 1/8 in tall
A stoneware tabletop cascade fountain beside a mug and a potted plant, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 24 The Cascade Fountain A tabletop fountain with four trays that zigzag the water down into its basin.
  • Insane
  • 10 hours over 3 sittings, plus drying
  • 8 sheets, 15 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase10 7/16 in tall, the basin 9 3/16 in x 7 13/16 in, holding about 3/4 gal
Jade green stoneware origami dragon with celadon wings beside a coffee mug and books, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 42 The Origami Dragon A seated dragon built from 81 flat slab facets, like a folded paper dragon, with pleated wings, horns, plates down its back and a tail curled round to its feet.
  • Insane
  • 14 hours, plus a slow dry
  • 15 sheets, 20 pages
16 5/16 in tall to the wing tips, 13 7/16 in x 11 3/16 in across
A stoneware castle dice tower with a tall keep, a felt dice courtyard and four blue-roofed towers, from a Clay Hole template Paper template 43 The Castle Dice Tower An 11 inch castle keep with three baffles inside that rolls your dice out its gate into a walled courtyard.
  • Insane
  • 10 hours over four sittings, plus drying
  • 14 sheets, 21 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase11 11/16 in tall, 8 7/8 in x 10 5/8 in overall, a 6 5/8 in x 3 15/16 in dice court
Faceted teal and cream stoneware dinnerware set on an oak table, plates to soup bowl, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 47 The Full Clay Hole Dinnerware Set Seven pieces, twelve facets below a crisp ridge and perfectly round above.
  • Insane
  • 18 hours
  • 17 sheets, 26 pages
seven pieces, a 10 1/2 in dinner plate to a 13 1/2 oz tumbler
A 22 inch teal faceted stoneware ginger jar lamp glowing on a side table by a sofa, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 54 The Faceted Ginger Jar Lamp A 22 inch ten-sided ginger jar lamp cut like a gem, built from a hundred flat triangles.
  • Insane
  • 14 hours, five or six sittings
  • 9 sheets, 17 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase22 in tall, 13 5/8 in across
A tall twisted faceted white stoneware vase holding cherry blossom branches, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 55 The Twisted Tower Vase An 18 1/4 inch square vase that turns a third of a turn from foot to rim, built from 48 flat triangles.
  • Insane
  • 9 hours over four sittings, plus drying
  • 12 sheets, 18 pages
18 1/4 in tall, 5 in square at the base, holds about a gallon
A 35 inch amber stoneware Big Ben clock tower on the floor beside a wooden cabinet, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 56 The Big Ben Clock Tower A 35 inch clock tower in five stacked sections, with four working dials and a Westminster chime.
  • Insane
  • 22 hours over eight sittings
  • 11 sheets, 20 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase35 in tall, a 6 3/4 in square base and four 4 in dials
A faceted coral stoneware octopus hanging on a white wall, its eight arms curling out, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 57 The Geometric Octopus A faceted wall octopus 28 9/16 in across, built in nine pieces that hang separately: a body with two eyes and eight arms.
  • Insane
  • 14 hours over six sittings, plus drying
  • 38 sheets, 46 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase28 9/16 in across, 15 7/16 in tall, 3 11/16 in off the wall
Faceted cobalt blue stoneware origami peacock with an emerald pleated fan on marble, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 63 The Origami Peacock A peacock built from 49 flat slab facets, like a folded paper peacock, displaying a half-round fan of fourteen pleated panels.
  • Insane
  • 14 hours, plus a slow dry
  • 7 sheets, 12 pages
8 1/16 in tall, 16 11/16 in across the fan and 10 1/16 in front to back
Olive stoneware origami stegosaurus with amber back plates beside a mug and books, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 64 The Origami Stegosaurus A stegosaurus built from 71 flat slab facets, like a folded paper dinosaur, with twelve folded plates and four tail spikes.
  • Insane
  • 14 hours, plus a slow dry
  • 6 sheets, 11 pages
14 15/16 in long and 7 13/16 in tall to the tallest plate
Faceted leaf green stoneware origami chameleon on a brown branch, its tail curled, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 65 The Origami Chameleon A chameleon on a branch, built from 64 flat slab facets like folded paper, its square tail curling into a spiral beside the branch.
  • Insane
  • 16 hours, plus a slow dry
  • 6 sheets, 11 pages
13 3/8 in long, 8 5/8 in tall and 3 5/8 in wide
Charcoal stoneware origami gorilla on its knuckles beside a coffee mug and books, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 66 The Origami Gorilla A silverback gorilla on its knuckles, built from 82 flat slab facets like folded paper, with a high hump and a peaked crest.
  • Insane
  • 15 hours, plus a slow dry
  • 12 sheets, 17 pages
10 5/16 in tall at the hump, 10 3/8 in long and 12 in across the arms
A two-half stoneware backgammon board with cobalt and rust points on a walnut table, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 88 The Backgammon Set A backgammon board in two halves, with checker racks and a raised bar.
  • Insane
  • 14 hours over five sittings, plus a week of drying
  • 6 sheets, 13 pages
a 21 1/8 in x 12 3/4 in board in two halves, about 1 in tall, with 32 checkers 1 1/8 in across
Faceted whale shark wall sculpture in a navy, teal and plum ombre with white spots, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 96 The Whale Shark Wall Sculpture A faceted whale shark wall sculpture 19 1/2 in long, closed all the way round, built from 39 flat facets over six ribs.
  • Insane
  • 12 hours over 3 or 4 sittings, plus drying
  • 9 sheets, 15 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase19 1/2 in long, 6 15/16 in tall, 2 3/8 in off the wall
Teal faceted stoneware sculpture of two kneeling lovers beside a mug and books, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 97 The Geometric Lovers Two lovers kneeling face to face in a tender embrace, in 62 folded slab pieces, her head on his chest.
  • Insane
  • 20 hours over four sittings, plus a slow dry
  • 14 sheets, 21 pages
13 5/8 in tall, 7 1/16 in x 10 7/16 in at the base
Teal faceted stoneware sculpture of a kneeling mother holding her child cheek to cheek, from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 98 The Geometric Mother and Child A kneeling mother holding her small child cheek to cheek, in 54 folded slab pieces.
  • Insane
  • 20 hours over four sittings, plus a slow dry
  • 11 sheets, 19 pages
12 7/16 in tall, 9 1/16 in x 7 1/16 in at the base
Teal faceted stoneware sculpture of a kneeling father carrying his child, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 99 The Geometric Father and Child A kneeling father with his child riding on his shoulders, in 56 folded slab pieces.
  • Insane
  • 20 hours over four sittings, plus a slow dry
  • 15 sheets, 22 pages
17 3/16 in tall, 10 3/16 in x 7 3/8 in at the base
Teal faceted stoneware sculpture of a kneeling expecting mother beside a mug, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 100 The Geometric Expecting Mother A kneeling expecting mother cradling her belly, head bowed toward it, in 35 folded slab pieces.
  • Insane
  • 14 hours over four sittings, plus a slow dry
  • 10 sheets, 17 pages
12 7/16 in tall, 9 in x 6 in at the base
A navy stoneware chest of seven cream drawers with a tray top on an oak dresser, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 101 The Seven Drawer Vanity Chest A chest of seven graduated drawers with a tray top and a plinth, for a dresser or a bathroom counter.
  • Insane
  • 14 hours over four sittings, then two weeks of drying
  • 35 sheets, 44 pages
13 15/16 in tall, 12 7/8 in wide and 8 in deep, about 37 lb
Giant faceted black stoneware chess king beside a coffee mug and books, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 103 The Giant Geometric Chess King A 20 inch faceted Staunton chess king with a cross on top, built from 54 flat slab pieces.
  • Insane
  • 20 hours over six sittings, plus three weeks of drying
  • 9 sheets, 15 pages
20 in tall, 8 5/8 in across the base, about 8 lb
Giant faceted black stoneware chess queen with a pointed coronet beside a coffee mug, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 104 The Giant Geometric Chess Queen A 17 7/8 inch faceted Staunton queen with a pointed coronet, from 45 flat slab pieces.
  • Insane
  • 16 hours over six sittings
  • 9 sheets, 16 pages
17 7/8 in tall, 7 7/8 in across the base, about 7 lb
Giant faceted black stoneware chess bishop with a slotted mitre beside a coffee mug, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 105 The Giant Geometric Chess Bishop A 14 3/4 inch faceted Staunton bishop with a slotted mitre, from 48 flat slab pieces.
  • Insane
  • 14 hours over six sittings
  • 9 sheets, 16 pages
14 3/4 in tall, 7 in across the base, about 5 lb
Giant faceted black stoneware chess knight with a four-lock mane beside a coffee mug, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 106 The Giant Geometric Chess Knight A 12 5/8 inch faceted Staunton knight with a four-lock mane, from 54 slab pieces.
  • Insane
  • 14 hours over six sittings
  • 9 sheets, 23 pages
12 5/8 in tall, 6 5/8 in across the base, about 4 lb
Giant faceted black stoneware chess rook with square battlements beside a coffee mug, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 107 The Giant Geometric Chess Rook An 11 5/8 inch faceted Staunton rook with eight square battlements, from 36 slab pieces.
  • Insane
  • 12 hours over six sittings
  • 6 sheets, 20 pages
11 5/8 in tall, 6 3/8 in across the base, about 4 lb
Giant faceted black stoneware chess pawn with a gem-cut ball beside a coffee mug, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 108 The Giant Geometric Chess Pawn A 10 1/2 inch faceted Staunton pawn with a big crystal-cut ball, from 42 slab pieces.
  • Insane
  • 12 hours over six sittings
  • 5 sheets, 20 pages
10 1/2 in tall, 5 7/8 in across the base, about 3 lb
Four-legged stoneware stool with a thick octagon seat in speckled satin green, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 109 The Splayed Leg Stool A four-legged stoneware stool with a thick octagon seat, splayed tapered legs and rungs, 17 1/2 in tall.
  • Insane
  • 10 hours over four sittings, then two weeks of drying
  • 9 sheets, 18 pages
17 1/2 in tall with a 14 in seat, about 31 lb $40, free for members
Thirteen-story stoneware pagoda lantern, red roofs over glowing charcoal walls, made from The Clay Hole paper template Paper template 126 The Thirteen-Story Pagoda A 34 inch Chinese thirteen-story pagoda lantern in fifteen lift-off sections, its roof corners curling up, glowing from two strings of battery fairy lights inside.
  • Insane
  • 40 hours over ten sittings, plus two weeks of drying
  • 21 sheets, 29 pages
Requires extra hardware purchase34 in tall, the bottom roof 7 7/8 in across, the base 8 7/8 in across
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. Advanced35 templatesMore sheets, and sometimes hardware. Expert20 templatesMost of an afternoon, or a few sittings. Insane30 templates, this pageDozens of pieces that fit exactly. Legendary3 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