I'm Naomi Clement — I've been working in clay for over 25 years, and I'm a self-professed handle geek. I love geeking out about all the little details that make a kick-ass handle.

This mini-course is for anyone who struggles with making handles (you are so not alone — I was a member of that club for years myself, until a grad school professor bluntly told me my handles kind of sucked). 

The course is broken into three lessons: the ergonomics and design principles behind a comfortable handle, the actual mechanics of pulling one step by step, and some strategies and homework to help you keep practicing and start making handles that feel like yours.

Before you get started, I suggest you grab one of your favourite mugs to have on hand while you watch.

Course Overview: 

0:00 Welcome & what's covered in this mini-course

2:35 Lesson 1: Handle ergonomics & cross-sections 

5:45 Lesson 1: Handle placement 

11:26 Lesson 2: What you need 

13:16 Body mechanics for pulling 

17:27 Demo: pulling your first handle, start to finish

21:55 Demo: second handle, dog-bone variation

24:31 Troubleshooting thin spots and tears

25:55 Lesson 3: Practice, building a handle library, finding your own style & next steps