A challenge on Clay Buddies was to redesign a yarn bowl. The shape does not really lend itself to clay, more to a lathe and to wood. It’s very hard to stop the cutout slumping or warping and the challenge is to keep the piece very smooth to eliminate friction. Here are the basic criteria for a successful yarn bowl, although admittedly, most of the potters who knitted said they found yarn bowls great as a gift, but completely useless. Have you made a yarn bowl? Send me a photo!

• it needs to weigh a lot so it doesn’t move when the yarn is pulled.
• smooth edges, they need to be perfect so things don’t snag.
• closed holes for knitting needles
• taller sides or more curved in at the top, if you pull the yarn quickly the skein tends to bounce out.
• two spots for yarn to feed out of at least for Colorwork
• a gloss glaze as matte or raw clay would give too much friction.