Cut my finger with a filet knife while making lunch and was wondering when I'd be able to work again. I'd really like to be back Saturday but my job requires heavy lifting and getting my hand wet. To make it worse I work with clay which might pose problematic for an open wound.

What did your doctor recommend?

He told me the stitches should stay in 7-10 days.

Young, healthy people heal much more quickly than older or unhealthy people.
You should be able to get it wet and work on about day 4 if the skin isn't red and sore. It isn't hard to hold that finger away a tiny bit.

7 to 10 days is appropriate woud care discharge instructions. Follow your doctors orders.

Just call your doctor and describe your work and ask.

My experience when I was about 45: I cut off the end of my thumb on a table saw, had surgery in an ER, was told to come back to have the stitches out. I went on a canoe/camping trip and took them out myself.