Do You Need to Knead Air Dry Clay?

Have you ever thought of sculpting something from air dry clay straight out of its package?

As a beginner, I have thought about and even tried it.

But damn the clay was too tough and my fingers hurt so badly trying to press it to get the shape I wanted when making a trinket tray.

Later I came to know kneading not only makes the air dry clay soft which is great for shaping but also avoids clay from cracking when drying. But how?

Don’t panic. I’ll tell you how and why kneading is the most important step before you sculpt anything with air dry clay.

Why kneading air dry clay is an essential first step

You need to knead air dry clay because it makes the clay soft enough for shaping, spreads the moisture evenly across all the layers of air dry clay and releases the air inside.

Air dry clay is a highly porous material with lots of moisture and air bubbles inside. They have spread randomly in different layers. 

If you make a project with air dry clay without kneading it first, the moisture inside will release from different areas of the clay at different evaporation rates, causing uneven shrinkage.

Due to this uneven shrinkage, tension builds up between the layers and it is released by cracking the clay surface.

When kneading, the moisture spreads evenly. When the moisture amount is almost equal in all the layers of air dry clay, they evaporate at the same rate when drying the project. Therefore, no uneven shrinkage happens and no tension builds up. So, the clay won’t crack when drying.

Simple as that! 🎨

Also, when you keep kneading the air dry clay, the air bubbles that are trapped inside release. This is good because those trapped air bubbles become a huge problem when your project is drying. Those air pockets expand and cause cracks as the clay dries.

As you can see, kneading plays a huge role when you’re making something with air dry clay. That’s why it matters the most.

What happens if you skip kneading?

I’m not gonna repeat what I said. If you forgot or skipped kneading, I’m sorry buddy it’s over. 

• The clay will become too stiff and make it hard to shape as you want.
• Clay will crack when it is drying due to uneven shrinkage.
• Clay will tear apart due to the expansion of air pockets inside when drying.

How to knead air dry clay properly

Don’t worry, it’s not hard. Just make sure to take an energy drink before kneading because it is not for the weaker ones. Lol. I’m kidding. 😜

1. Take a fresh piece of air dry clay to your hand.
2. Condition it by tapping a little bit of water on the surface.
3. Wet your palms with little bit of water.
4. Start kneading the clay by pulling, folding, and pressing technique like you’re making a dough for pizza
5. Stop kneading when the clay is soft enough for shaping and the texture is uniform.

I have mentioned the word “little bit” every time where the water comes. This is important because water is the worst enemy of air dry clay. Too much water weakens the clay and forms cracks on clay while drying due to rapid evaporation rates.

Common kneading problems

Sometimes kneading can cause problems. Not always, but sometimes. So, let’s talk about them.

What if the clay is too hard to knead?

If the clay is too stiff or hard to knead, tap it with more water and try to knead. 

If that doesn’t work out, wrap it with a damp towel and do the pull, fold and press technique repeatedly until the clay becomes soft.

What if the clay gets too sticky?

Add a little bit of cornstarch or powder onto your palm and your working mat and start kneading. 

Cornstarch works like a non-stick barrier and release agent for air dry clay to prevent it from sticking to your hands, rolling pins, work surfaces, and molds.

Read, How to Keep Air Dry Clay from Sticking to Your Table

Why is my clay crumbling while I knead?

There are several reasons for the crumbling of air dry clay while kneading.

1. Your air dry clay is too old.
2. Your air dry clay brand is not good.
3. It lacks moisture.

First, add a little bit of water and try to knead the air dry clay. If it still crumbles, I’m sorry, mate. Time to shift to a new air dry clay brand or try a fresh one.

Watch, Mont Marte vs. Unbranded Air Dry Clay: Is the Cheap Stuff Worth It?

Final thoughts

Now you know the importance of kneading before you sculpt anything with air dry clay. It seems like just another simple step, but it interlinks with many other parts of your project and helps to fix many issues.

Yes, kneading takes time but it’s totally worth it. Great things take time, right? Cheers! 🤟🏾