Thank you.
I have been having a go at constructing, in Affinity Designer, an image of a stoneware jar, a pastiche of the one on page 16 of John's book.
I do not know if this is an original method.
I drew an ellipse using the Ellipse Tool, then I converted to curves.
I needed to keep the existing point at the left unaltered regarding it being (I think) Smart and the angle of its direction, so as to keep the curved base of the stoneware jar unaltered, yet I wanted also to have a vertical edge going upward.
I have found that, by working in units of pixels, and using numbers in the Transform panel, I can add an extra point to the closed curve, adding at a point away from the left point of the lower curve, and above that left point, setting it as Sharp, then moving it one pixel above the left point that is Smart. It seems possible, with care, to do this without distorting the lower curve,
Having added that, the vertical edge of the jar can be constructed.
I have since found that extra point might not be necessary to get that transition, but the technique may be useful in practical use both there and in other parts of the construction so as to accurately position directions.
William