With pottery cafes popping up all over the country, and satisfying throwing videos earning their spot in the social media spotlight, working with clay is very popular at the moment. Whether you're a complete novice, or a dab hand at throwing, working with air dry clay is an accessible way to bring the fun home.
If you're starting from scratch, there's a few tools you'll want to arm yourself with, and you may find that an air dry clay kit is the best way forward.
We tried out the LDN Wildflower air dry clay kit to see if it has everything you need to make a successful air dry clay project, and help you decide on the best option for you. Stick around for the results!
Jump straight to:
- Summary
- How we tested LDN Wildflower air dry clay kit
- LDN Wildflower air dry clay kit review
- Where to buy LDN Wildflower air dry clay kit
- Our verdict: should you buy LDN Wildflower air dry clay kit
- Looking for more air dry clay kits?
Summary
A great choice for beginners, sustainable small business London Wildflower's air dry clay kit comes with a huge range of tools, enough clay to mess around with, and a brilliant colour printed A4 instruction booklet.
How we tested
I tested air dry clay kits based on five key criteria: what's included in the kit, ease of use, clay quality, final results, and value for money.
I looked at the list of items, the quality and variety of tools, the amount of clay, and any paints or varnishes. I also considered how beginner-friendly the clay was, the clarity of the instructions, how easy it was to mould, and whether the drying times matched the claims.
When it came to clay quality, I judged it on texture, pliability, smoothness after drying, durability, and compatibility with finishing methods. For the final results, I focused on the appearance and durability of the completed projects and their resistance to damage.
The results
LDN Wildflower Large Pottery Kit review
Key features
- Tools: 12
- Clay: 1kg
- Instructions: Yes
- Paints: No
- Varnish: No
- RRP: £45 | $59.84
What's included- 4/5
The better question would be, 'What's not included?'!
In the LDN Wildflower Large Pottery Kit, you get a huge range of tools - all approved by pottery expert, @oasthouseceramics. We asked Oast House Ceramics for her opinions on what's included in the kit, and she told us:
'These are essential tools every potter should have in their arsenal. They’re high quality and incredibly useful, with nice extras like the wooden kidney. The instruction booklet adds great value!'
Oast House Ceramics
Here's what you get:
- Air dry clay (1kg)
- Potters pin tool
- Ribbon tool
- Wire cutter tool
- Scraper tool
- Smoother tool
- Rib tool
- Small rolling pin
- Paintbrush
- Sponge
- Water container
- Sandpaper
- Wooden board
- Instruction booklet
The board was a great inclusion, because playing with clay definitely gets messy! I'm glad I didn't have to sacrifice a chopping board or risk my surfaces.
I found the rolling pin, the sponge, the potter's pin tool, and the scraper tool the most useful in my project. I felt really well-equipped to try any and all forms of decoration.
I didn't use the water container provided as it was a bit shallow, and instead opted for a 2-litre drinks bottle that I trimmed down.
The only reason this kit lost a point is because it doesn't include any paints or varnish for decorating your finished design.
Ease of use - 5/5
The clay was perfectly malleable out of the bag, and the included instruction booklet made everything really easy. There were step-by-step instructions with pictures for a variety of different projects, including the slab planter I made.
I decided to add a rim to my pot to hold earrings on using techniques from the booklet!
Occasionally the lightweight wooden board would lift up if the clay stuck to it, which was a bit annoying, but easily remedied by adding some water.
Clay quality - 5/5
I was highly impressed by the quality of the clay. It was smooth and free from any gritty particles, lumps, or dried-up sections, making it immediately workable straight out of the bag.
The air dry clay has a wonderfully soft and pleasant texture, similar to that of kiln-baked clay due to its mineral composition. This clay is non-toxic and contains small fibres that help reinforce your creations once dry.
I left my pot to dry naturally over the weekend, and overall it took about 72 hours, but depending on the size of your project, it could take less time.
Final results - 4/5
I was really pleased with the finished results of my pot! The clay fully dried after about 2 hours, and luckily there were no cracks or breaks. I finished off the process by sanding down any rough surfaces using the included sandpaper and it was good to go.
At this point, you could paint and seal your pot to make it watertight, but I left it untreated to keep testing fair as there was no paint or varnish included in the kit.
Value for money - 5/5
I found this kit to offer brilliant value for money. For £45 you get a huge range of tools, a weighty slab of clay, and an invaluable instruction booklet.
I love finding any opportunity to support an independent business, and despite not including paint or varnish, I thought this kit was well worth the money thanks to the quality of its components.
Where to buy LDN Wildflower Large Pottery Kit
Our verdict: should you buy LDN Wildflower Large Pottery Kit?
I highly recommend the LDN Wildflower air dry clay kit to any beginner seeking all the essential tools and then some. The high-quality, colour-printed A4 instruction booklet is the cherry on top. This kit would make a fantastic gift!
Looking for more air dry clay kits?
If you're still browsing and want to find more pottery kits to choose from, check out our roundup of the best air dry clay kits!
