My impression of cement water was that the mixture would be thin, like water. However, I started out with the cement water less viscous and increased the amount of cement. As I said, the thicker cloth absorbed and held onto the cement water better than the thinner cloth. I could not get thin cloth to hold the cement water, even when thickened. The more I thickened it, the faster it seemed to flow/drip off the cloth sides, but it did thicken on the flat top.
Also, when I had problems with the thin cloth and went to thicker cloth, I took a break and looked at the original picture more closely. Comparing the results of my attempts with the original picture, it was obvious to me thicker cloth was used based on the folds of the cloth. It was the difference I was seeing before me with both thin forms and thick forms side by side.
I will experiment more. I don't know that I can explain better. I think one just needs to experiment a little to see with their own eyes. I played with the folds of the different cloths dry, wet with only water, thin cement water, and thicker cement water. I need to find more cloth of medium thickness before I move on to the cloth that is really thick, which I want to use for much larger planters where the thickness will provide stronger pots, I think..
