What to Bring to Pottery Class

Your first pottery class is coming up, and you're wondering what to bring. Good news: you probably don't need much. Studios provide the clay, tools, and most equipment. Your job is showing up prepared to get messy.

Here's a straightforward packing list.

What to Wear

This matters more than what you pack. Pottery is messy—especially wheel throwing, where wet clay flings everywhere.

Clothing

Wear:

Old clothes you don't care about (clay stains)
Short sleeves or sleeves that roll up and stay put
Comfortable pants that allow sitting and bending
Closed-toe shoes (required at most studios)

Avoid:

Loose, flowy sleeves (they drag through clay)
Clothes you need to keep clean
Sandals or open-toe shoes
Nice shoes of any kind

Tip: Dark colors hide clay stains better than light colors. That said, dried clay brushes off most fabrics once it's fully dry.

Hair

Tie back long hair. You'll have clay on your hands constantly, and pushing hair out of your face transfers clay to your face. A hair tie or headband keeps hair contained.

Jewelry

Remove before class:

Rings (clay gets stuck, scratches your work)
Bracelets and watches (same issues)
Long necklaces (dangle into clay)
Dangling earrings (can catch)

Leave jewelry at home or bring a small pouch to store it safely during class. Rings are the biggest issue—take them off before touching any clay.

Nails

Short nails work better. Long nails:

Leave marks in clay you don't want
Make centering on the wheel harder
Get clay stuck underneath

If you have acrylics or gel nails, pottery might damage them. Some people do pottery with longer nails, but beginners have an easier time with short ones.

What to Bring

The Essentials

Apron (if you have one) Most studios provide aprons, but they're shared and sometimes minimal. If you own an apron—even a cooking apron—bring it. Split-leg pottery aprons offer the best coverage for wheel work.

Towel A small hand towel for wiping hands and cleaning up. Studios have towels, but having your own ensures you always have one within reach. An old bath towel works fine.

Water bottle Classes run 2-3 hours. Pottery is physical work—especially wheel throwing. Stay hydrated. Most studios don't have drinking fountains.

Hair tie If you have long hair, bring a backup tie. You don't want to be stuck with hair in your face and clay on your hands.

Nice to Have

Change of clothes For wheel throwing classes especially. If clay soaks through your clothes, you'll appreciate having something clean to change into.

Plastic bag For wet or clay-covered items after class. Keep the mess contained on your way home.

Notebook and pen Some people like to take notes on techniques. Not essential—most learning happens through doing—but useful if you're a note-taker.

Snack If you're taking a longer class (3+ hours), a small snack for breaks helps. Eat before you start working, not with clay hands.

What You Probably Don't Need

Your own tools Studios provide all necessary tools. Don't buy pottery tools until you've taken several classes and know what you actually want.

Your own clay Studios include clay in the class fee. Bringing your own can actually cause problems—different clay bodies may not be compatible with the studio's glazes and firing schedule.

Camera/phone for photos Nice idea, but impractical during class. Your hands will be covered in clay. Some studios take photos and share them after. If you want photos, ask someone else to take them or wait until after you've cleaned up.

What Studios Provide

Most pottery studios include:

Clay (included in class fee)
Pottery wheels (for wheel throwing classes)
Hand-building tools (ribs, wire cutters, needle tools, sponges)
Work surfaces
Aprons (often communal)
Towels and sponges
Glazing materials (for finishing your piece)
Kiln firing (though sometimes an additional fee)

When in doubt, check the studio's website or call ahead. Most beginner classes are designed for people arriving with nothing but appropriate clothes.

Before You Leave Home

A quick checklist:

Wearing old clothes I don't care about
Short or rolled-up sleeves
Closed-toe shoes
Rings, bracelets, watches removed
Long hair tied back
Ate something (class can be 2-3 hours)
Signed any required waiver/forms online
Know the studio location and parking

Arriving Early

First-timers should arrive 10-15 minutes early. You'll need time to:

Find the studio
Sign liability waivers (if not done online)
Put on an apron
Get oriented to the space
Use the restroom before class starts

Studios often run classes back-to-back. Being late means missing the demonstration—the most important part for beginners.

Special Situations

Taking Kids

If you're bringing a child to a family pottery class:

Dress them in their oldest clothes
Bring a complete change of clothes
Remove any jewelry
Expect them to get messy (this is the fun)
Bring wipes for cleanup

Physical Considerations

If you have back or mobility issues:

Mention this to the instructor before class
Ask about adjustable seat heights
Hand-building classes are often easier on the body than wheel throwing
Take breaks as needed

Allergies or Sensitivities

If you have skin sensitivities:

Consider bringing your own cotton gloves (some people work in thin gloves)
Ask about the clay body used (some contain additives)
Wash hands thoroughly after class
Moisturize after—clay dries out skin

After Class

Cleanup

Studios expect you to clean your workspace. This typically means:

Wiping down the wheel or work surface
Rinsing tools
Cleaning up clay scraps
Wiping down your area

The instructor will show you cleanup procedures. It's part of the learning process.

Your Pieces

You won't take finished pieces home the same day. Pottery requires:

Drying (1-2 weeks for greenware)
Bisque firing (first kiln firing)
Glazing (applying color/finish)
Glaze firing (second kiln firing)

Total time from creation to finished piece: 3-6 weeks. Studios will tell you when and how to pick up your work.

Your Clothes

Clay washes out of most fabrics once it's fully dry:

Let clay dry completely
Brush off dried clay
Wash as normal

For stubborn stains, soaking in cold water before washing helps. Don't put clay-covered clothes directly in the dryer—heat can set stains.

The Bottom Line

Minimum requirements:

Old clothes with short/rolled sleeves
Closed-toe shoes
Hair tied back
Jewelry removed

Helpful additions:

Your own towel
Water bottle
Apron (optional—studios provide)

Everything else is provided. Studios want beginners to succeed, and that means making it easy to walk in with minimal preparation.

The most important thing you bring is willingness to get messy and make mistakes. That's how pottery works.