I started my pottery journey early last year and have since taken a couple of one off classes to learn the basics, including this class at The Claypot in Spotswood, NJ. They have such a cute lil BYOB date night option, loved it. What was a bit distinct about this class was that it was very sponge heavy, I was using the sponge to mold the clay vs my hand/finger tips. I’ve since adopted this and have found myself being able to pull clay up better! Sponge or no sponge? Verdict: use what you’re comfortable but if you want to pull up easier, I’d use the sponge.