# Blending, Shaping, and Going Higher

Unit: Handbuilding Basics
Topic: Coil Building: Creating Height
URL: https://claybook.studio/learn/blending-shaping-and-going-higher/

# From Coils to Walls

Stacking coils is only half the job. Blending them together is what creates real, strong walls.

## Blending Inside First

After you place a coil, always blend the *inside* first. Push the clay from the coil downward and inward with your finger or a wooden tool, smearing it into the previous coil or base.

*   Blend in one direction for consistency.
*   Work all the way around the inside before touching the outside.
*   Blending inside before outside prevents the coil from popping off.

## Blending Outside

Once the inside is secured, blend the outside too. This creates a smooth, strong wall. You do not have to blend the outside completely smooth if you want the coil texture to show as decoration, that is a valid artistic choice!

## Controlling the Shape

This is where coil building gets exciting. You control the shape by where you place each coil.

*   **To splay outward**: Place each new coil slightly toward the outside edge of the previous one.
*   **To go straight up**: Stack coils directly on top of each other.
*   **To curve inward**: Place each coil slightly toward the inside edge.

## Keep It Wet

Coil building takes time, and lower sections can dry while you work. Cover finished sections with plastic to keep the moisture even.

## Build Sequence for Taller Forms

For cleaner vertical builds:

*   Add one coil.
*   Blend inside completely.
*   Blend outside enough to secure.
*   Pause and check wall angle before adding the next coil.

This prevents slow drift that can tilt the whole form.

## Pro Tip

Do not try to blend more than 2–3 coils at a time. Add a coil, blend it in, then add the next. Rushing ahead and stacking many coils before blending causes the walls to bulge or collapse.

## Keep Exploring

The principle of placing coils inward or outward to control shape is the same geometry used in [coil spring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coil_spring) design, where the pitch angle determines the spring's behavior. Native American potters of the [Pueblo peoples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pueblo_peoples) are renowned for their coil-built pottery, creating intricate forms without a wheel for over a thousand years.

## Check your understanding

### Question 1: Why should you blend the inside of a coil before the outside?

- [ ] A. It is faster
- [x] B. It prevents the coil from popping off
- [ ] C. It creates a better texture
- [ ] D. The inside dries faster

Tip: Blending the inside first secures the coil from the inside, preventing it from popping off when you work the outside.

### Question 2: How do you make a coil-built pot flare outward as it grows?

- [ ] A. Use thicker coils
- [x] B. Place coils toward the outside edge
- [ ] C. Squeeze the wall inward
- [ ] D. Use very wet clay

Tip: Place each new coil slightly toward the outside edge of the previous one to flare the wall outward.

### Question 3: How many coils should you stack before blending them in?

- [ ] A. As many as possible before blending
- [x] B. Blend each coil as you add it
- [ ] C. Only blend the very last coil
- [ ] D. Blend every 5 coils

Tip: Blend each coil as you go. Adding too many coils at once before blending can cause the walls to bulge or collapse.