Grasp the top of the pulling blank in one hand. (I use my right.) Wet the bottom of the blank with the hand that will be working the clay.
Keeping your working hand wet, grasp the mid portion of the blank, leaving enough clay above the working hand for a firm grasp on the blank's top. As you grasp the clay, your fingers should be on one side, with your thumb on the opposite side. Fingers and thumb should be flattened as if you were going to make a shadow-puppet duck.
With gentle pressure, stroke downward in a smooth, continuous motion. The carrot form of the blank will begin to elongate. Continue elongating the clay with a series of stroking pulls until the clay has reached the desired thickness and at least the minimum length for your handle or strap.
Tip: It is good to pull the strap quite a bit longer than you think you may need, especially if you are new to handles. The bow of a handle can take more length than you might expect. Also, if you want to do decorative attachments, the extra length can come in handy.
