Making Felted Soap
I bought a felting kit from another soaper several months ago when I found out how “easy” it was to make felted soap. The beauty of felted soap is that it not only covers ugly soap, but it works as a washcloth and soap in one. The wool will continue to shrink as you use the soap. Since I had some ugly peanut butter and jelly soap that smells just fine, last night I decided it was time to try it out!
Ugly Soap
Plus bright colored wool (and some water)
Equals Felted Soap
I really didn’t have any idea how much wool to use for each bar of soap.
For my first attempt, I thought I used a bit too much wool, and it didn’t want to wrap very smoothly. I received these instructions from Mielke’s Farm when I bought the felting kit, and I’m pretty sure this is where the supplies for the kit originally came from as well.
Here are the basics:
1. Loosely wrap soap with wool.
2. Add little bits of water until wool sticks together.
3. Rub and squeeze wool until formed to soap.
4. Rinse with cold water.
5. Pat dry with towel.
6. Repeat over and over until your hands are completely pruney! (I added this last step because once I got started, it was just too much fun! )
Seemed like too much wool
You might be able to see some soaps that aren’t quite covered (not enough wool), and now that they are all dried, you can see that some of them still have some fluffy parts:
Not quite completely felted
These will be for our family’s use for now. I’ll keep practicing – in my spare time! I had also recently bookmarked these instructions for felting soap. I would have to invest in a few more tools to create designs in the wool like they did…
Would you use a felted soap? Why or why not?
December 29th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Probably not… I’m allergic to wool! But the idea sounds really cool!
December 29th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
They look good!
Holly´s last blog post ..Small but Mighty
December 29th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Hmmm. Very intrigued by this post. Is it soft? Scratchy? Does the wool wash away or do you throw it away when there is no soap left? I definitely want an update on this!
December 29th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
That is so cool! I’ve never used a felted soap. Is it itchy at all? that would be my only issue with using is possibly breaking out. I’m not allergic to wool, just a little sensitive.
Crystal Martin´s last blog post ..Has anyone seen my mind? Oh there it is! I think
December 29th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I love it! You did a great job!! See how easy that was. Plus, people love them. I know I do
December 29th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
thoses are so cool and fun!! Is the wool scratchy?
Jessica´s last blog post ..One of our family traditions
December 30th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Looks cool.
If it costs more I’d say I would not buy felted soap. It’s not a NEED. And if it doesn’t cost more what’s the point for you? Oh wait, you said to cover the color fails. So, if its the same price as the other soaps it would probably sell – and you get to use a soap that you weren’t happy with the colors. Maybe you should give it a test run and see what happens.
And I too am curious if its itchy.
autumnesf´s last blog post ..A Quiet Christmas with a New Tradition
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:13 am
Looks like quite a bit of work, but fun. Very pretty.
Sharon´s last blog post ..My week of fun making goodies
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:04 pm
[...] Warden of Great Cakes Soapworks posted some basics for making felted soap on her blog. She also linked to the Little Birdie Secrets blog which has a great tutorial posted. [...]
January 3rd, 2010 at 2:31 pm
I’m also curious about how the felt feels against skin. And what you do with the wool after? Can it be reused somehow? I think I’d avoid it if it can’t be reused; I don’t like throwing things away. But if there’s a reuse for it and if the wool isn’t itchy to the skin, I’d consider it.
Kim´s last blog post ..Last Giveaway of 2009!
January 6th, 2010 at 10:19 am
It looks like you have had lots of fun making these soaps!
Depending on the wool used, a felted wool soap can be scratchy, but it can also be soft. I’m personally fond of using Merino wool.
The wool can be used as a washcloth pad after the soap is all gone, but it will be very small. Most people just throw away the wool.
Andee
blog.thesage.com
January 8th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
PS. There were directions in last month’s issue of Family Fun Magazine, too.
Tricia Richner´s last blog post ..Felted Soap
January 26th, 2010 at 7:46 am
I just finished felting two bars of soap Sunday night. The first bar turned out fine, but the second needed more attention. I was not sure if I could wet it down again and continue working the wool, but I tried and it worked. The wool is tighter now and smoother all around.
I bought my wool roving from Overstock.com, it was very reasonably priced and I was able to get many colors.
http://www.grandmaandmesoaps.com
<a href=www.grandmaandmesoaps.com/Products.htnl<Felting Soap