Joanie m Posted June 22 Report Share Posted June 22 OK, so this may seam like a everyone knows but me thing, but what is the secret for making yarn bowls that don't get wonky when glaze fired at cone 5-6? I made 7 of varied designs. They looked good with the bisque at cone 05 but when I opened the kiln today there were only 4 that are maybe passable. I left the rims get to nearly bone dry before making the final cut for the yarn slot. I did designs that I saw similar examples on line. It seams that any slot that runs horizontally slumps and the cut gets out of round. Any info or tricks to have a better success rate would help. at 50% success, 'm not sure that I will be making more. Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rox54 Posted June 22 Report Share Posted June 22 I had to achieve a decent success rate with yarn bowls when I opted to have a booth at a fiber convention. I found that slots that are too wide make the bowl go out of round. Yarn is really not very thick and doesn't need a large passage. Also, I didn't make my slots past the curve of the bowl, which I think also helped stabilize the shape. I covered the top half of the bowl for a few days to balance out the drying with the base. Do the pictures you see online have views from the top down so that you can see if they are wonky? Rae Reich 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanie m Posted June 22 Author Report Share Posted June 22 Here is an example of a bowl. This is not mine. This was on Pintrest Mine was very similar. I just realized, that this was not yet fired. Mine looked lovely at this stage. I guess I should have looked closer. The whole flange area on mine is about an inch our of round. I would be interested to see what this one looked like when finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanie m Posted June 22 Author Report Share Posted June 22 Here is another one I attempted. The spiral on mine was out of control off! Might this be slip casted? Would that make a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted June 23 Report Share Posted June 23 There have been a few ideas put forth when yarn/knitting bowls have come up on the forum before. A few things that have been mentioned are throw a bit thicker than usual, don't overfire, use a clay rated to a higher cone and fire under it's maturity, don't make the cutout to wide or to deep into the pot, press the area that tends to warp outwards in a bit after cutting the slot, leave a bit of clay in place near the top of the slot until the pot is dry then remove it. PeterH, rox54 and Rae Reich 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted June 23 Report Share Posted June 23 Can you post a picture? A previous thread: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kielb Posted June 23 Report Share Posted June 23 Couple ideas I have not seen here, convert your design to drilled holes so no longer a clean detached slot but requires threading yarn through one of the holes. Leave a couple small clay bridges in place, once finish fired - cut clay bridges with a diamond blade, buff super smooth with diamond blade and finish decorate small spots with acrylic paint or overglaze the design with lowfire glaze on midfire stuff to final decoration. Definitely make a bit thicker, a full 1/4” seems appropriate. Magnolia Mud Research 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted June 24 Report Share Posted June 24 On 6/23/2024 at 12:24 AM, Joanie m said: Here is an example of a bowl. This is not mine. This was on Pintrest Mine was very similar. After using and making yarn bowls, I came to the conclusion that a bowl with a bell shaped pot narrowing to a flared bottle shaped top was tge way to go. Sit the ball of yarn in the bowl, thread the yarn through bell jar and place over bowl. No pets running away with ball of yarn, can stick knitting needles into the bottle neck. I made these for local spinning and weaving guild . All gone, I make no more. Callie Beller Diesel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted June 26 Report Share Posted June 26 As a knitter, I don't like yarn bowls. The glaze needs to be 100% perfect, no pin holes, bare patches, absolutely smooth, inside and in/around the slot. Why cone 5/6? They're easier to make and keep to shape at ^06. Callie Beller Diesel, Babs and neilestrick 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted June 27 Report Share Posted June 27 18 hours ago, Chilly said: As a knitter, I don't like yarn bowls. This. I find they’re either purchased by beginner yarn folks, or people who are buying tools for the yarn artist in their life. Experienced knitters don’t get them for themselves as a rule. kathyjp, Babs, iffetorbay and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanie m Posted July 2 Author Report Share Posted July 2 Thanks everyone for your responses. Sorry to be delayed in responding. I opened the disappointing kiln just before leaving on vacation. I probably throw too thin for one thing. I did leave the rim attached until nearly bone dry then cut the edge through with a jig saw blade as someone on line suggested. I definitely cut slots in varied directions vs just up and down. I didn't post pics because I was leaving and didn't have time. I find it interesting about the comments from knitters that don't use them. I was gifted one once, and it seemed like just something extra to sit around. I usually keep my knitting stuff in a basket or bag if traveling, so they aren't convenient for me. Started this project because someone requested them for a yarn shop. Oh well, I could try again, or just chalk it up to some very time consuming glaze test tiles, which by the way, I loved the glaze results. Thanks again, Happy potting all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted July 2 Report Share Posted July 2 If yarn shop is purchasing them from you, sure, make them and make them work! If you get paid as they sell, I would be hesitant. Knitter and potter here spottylover 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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