Crafting A Whistling Clay Turtle: A Step-By-Step Guide

Creating a clay turtle whistle is a fun and rewarding activity that has been practised for thousands of years. To make a clay whistle, you will need approximately 455 grams (16.0 oz) or 1 lb of clay, which can be purchased at arts and crafts retail stores. Start by making two balls of clay and two small pots. Press your thumb into the middle of the clay balls and pinch the clay to form the pinch pots. Ensure that the pinch pots are the same size and that the walls are around 1/4 inch thick. Next, score the rims of the pots with a fork and dampen them with slip or water. Stick the rims together to form a hollow ball, which will become the rounded part of the whistle. Flatten one side of the ball by gently tapping it on a table. Break off a small piece of clay to create the mouthpiece, which should be about 1 inch by 3/4 inch thick and 1-1/2 inches long. Attach the mouthpiece to the side of the ball and make a hole with a craft stick. Finally, decorate your whistle by adding arms, eyes, and tails to create a unique turtle design.

Make two small clay pots

Making two small clay pots is the first step in creating the body of your turtle clay whistle. To begin, separate your clay into two equally-sized balls. Roll each ball of clay into a ball and then push your thumb into the middle of each, keeping your thumb inserted and pinching the clay to form two pinch pots. Continue pinching and pressing the clay until the pots have an even thickness on all sides, rotating the ball in your hand as you do so. The walls of your pinch pots should be around 1/4 inch thick.

Next, score the rims of the pots using a fork or a similar tool. Dampen the rims with slip (watery clay) or a little water. This will help the two pots stick together. Stick the rims of the two pots together to form a hollow ball of clay, which will become the rounded part of the whistle. Work the seam closed using your fingers or a tool, moving clay back and forth over the seam until it is no longer visible. The combined pots should form a ball or egg shape, creating an airtight hollow within.

Form a hollow ball

To form a hollow ball, start by making two small balls of clay. Then, press your thumb into the middle of each ball and pinch the clay to form two small pinch pots. Ensure that the walls of your pinch pots are around 1/4 inch thick and that the pinch pots are roughly the same size. Next, score the rims of the pots with a fork or a similar tool and dampen the rims with slip (watery clay) or a little water. This will help the two halves stick together. If you forget to score and slip the edges, the clay is likely to fall apart when you try to combine the pinch pots.

Once your pinch pots are ready, stick the rims together to form a hollow ball. Work the seam closed using your fingers or a tool, moving the clay back and forth over the seam until it is no longer visible. The combined pots should form a ball or egg shape with an airtight hollow inside. Finally, gently tap the ball on a table to flatten one side. This will create the rounded part of the whistle, forming the base for the mouthpiece and air holes.

Create a mouthpiece

Creating a mouthpiece for your turtle clay whistle is a crucial step in ensuring it produces sound. Here is a detailed guide to help you through the process:

Firstly, break off a small piece of clay to create the mouthpiece. The size of the mouthpiece should be similar to the top of your finger, approximately 1 inch by 3/4 inch thick and 1 1/2 inches long. The mouthpiece should have slightly tapered, squared sides, resembling a wedge shape. It is important to ensure that the mouthpiece is thick enough to accommodate an airway.

Next, use a popsicle stick to help shape the mouthpiece. Place the popsicle stick in the middle of the flattened clay and fold the clay over the stick to create a square shape. Once you have achieved the desired shape, carefully remove the popsicle stick, and you will be left with your mouthpiece.

Now, attach the mouthpiece to the side of the clay ball, positioning it near the base and aligning the top of the mouthpiece with the top of the sphere. This step ensures the mouthpiece is securely connected to the body of the whistle.

To create the whistle's opening, insert a craft stick through the mouthpiece and into the hollow ball, specifically on the flattened side. Leave the stick in place for now, as it will help guide the next step.

Using another craft stick, push a hole at a 45-degree angle into the bottom of the clay ball. Insert this stick until it makes contact with the first craft stick inside the mouthpiece. This hole should be near the edge of the hollow ball, close to the mouthpiece.

Alternatively, you can create a nib on one of the pinch pots using your thumb. Join the pots, remembering to score and dampen the edges before joining them. Insert the popsicle stick horizontally into the nib, pushing it all the way through to create the airway. Then, use another stick to make a square incision between the nib and the body of the whistle, removing the cut square of clay. Finally, use the stick to adjust the angle of the square incision to 45 degrees.

Make the whistle's opening

Now that you have the mouthpiece ready, it's time to make the opening of the whistle. Insert a craft stick through the mouthpiece and into the hollow ball near the flat side. Make sure the stick is pushed in at a 45-degree angle. Leave the stick inserted for now.

Next, grab another craft stick and push it against the bottom of the ball to create a hole. This should be done with the flat side of the stick, pushed in at a 45-degree angle until it touches the first craft stick inside. The hole will be near the edge of the hollow ball, close to the mouthpiece.

Now, carefully remove the first craft stick that you inserted through the mouthpiece. You should now have a clear airway from the mouthpiece, through the ball, and out of the hole you just created.

At this point, you can test your whistle by gently blowing into the mouthpiece. If you don't hear a sound, don't worry. It may take some adjustments to get it just right. You can try reinserting the craft stick through the mouthpiece and adjusting the angle of the air hole at the bottom.

Remember, the placement of the opening is crucial for achieving the best sound. Ideally, the opening should be positioned directly above where the mouthpiece enters the clay body. Additionally, the size of the opening will also affect the sound. A larger square-shaped opening will typically produce a better-quality sound.

Add texture and decorate

Now it's time to add some personality to your turtle whistle! You can add texture and create patterns on the clay using various tools and household items. Buttons, feathers, needles, and toothpicks can be used to create interesting designs and add texture to your whistle. Simply press these items against the clay to create imprints. You can also use your fingers to create different textures and patterns.

If you want to create a turtle shell pattern, you can use a toothpick to etch small, overlapping circles on the surface of the whistle. You can also use the toothpick to draw the turtle's features, such as its eyes, mouth, and shell patterns. If you want to add more detail to the eyes, you can use a needle to create a textured pattern around them.

Another way to add texture is by brushing the whistle with iron oxide. This will create a unique texture that can be left as is or further enhanced with liquid inks after firing. This technique can give your turtle whistle a rustic, hand-coloured etching appearance.

Don't be afraid to experiment with different textures and patterns. You can also add other clay elements, such as legs, tails, or spikes, to give your turtle whistle a truly unique look. Remember to smooth out any sharp edges and ensure that your added textures do not interfere with the functionality of the whistle.

Once you're happy with the texture and decorations, it's time to move on to the next step of firing your turtle whistle in a kiln.

Frequently asked questions