Moving Clay Upward

You know where your hands go. Now let's talk about the actual movement that raises the walls.

The Motion

With both hands in position at the base, squeezing gently:

1. Move upward slowly and steadily: both hands rise together at the same speed.
2. Keep the squeeze consistent as you move up. Do not increase pressure at the top.
3. Release the pressure gradually as you reach the rim. Never release suddenly.
4. Move your hands away from the clay after the pull, not while still pressing.

The key phrase: slow hands, fast wheel. The wheel should be spinning at medium-fast speed, and your hands move slowly upward.

How Much Clay Moves?

Each pull should move a measurable amount of clay upward. You should see the walls visibly grow taller with each pass. If nothing is changing, you are not squeezing enough. If the wall collapses, you squeezed too much.

Number of Pulls

A typical beginner cylinder might take 3–5 pulls. Each pull thins the wall slightly and raises it higher. After each pull:

• Check the wall thickness with your fingers.
• Check for even thickness top to bottom.
• Add water if the clay starts to drag or stick.

The First Pull Mantra

Repeat this to yourself: start at the base, move slowly, keep the squeeze even, release at the top. Every single pull, every single time.

Pull Review Checklist

After each pull, quickly check:

• Did height increase?
• Did thickness stay even?
• Did rim stay stable?

Adjust one variable per pull instead of changing everything at once.

Down the Rabbit Hole

The squeeze between your inside and outside hands creates shear stress in the clay wall, which is what allows the material to thin and rise. With enough repetition, the pulling motion becomes encoded as muscle memory, a form of procedural memory that lets you execute the movement with less conscious effort over time.