A Class on Soapmaking

Over the past few years, we have gathered with various ladies and girls to learn homemaking skills together. We've delved into knitting, cake decorating, quilling, calligraphy, canning, painting, and sewing. Soapmaking was on the list of lost arts that everyone wanted to know about; only none of us were already experienced with this subject. So after several months of my researching soap, last Friday afternoon our family hosted a class on soapmaking for a number of ladies in our area.

The refreshment table held soap favors/nametags and informative handouts.

Many guests congregated on our back deck for a hands-on experience. Prayers were answered, and we enjoyed perfect weather for a mid-November day!

I taught the cold-process method of soapmaking, and Sarah was my expert kitchen runner. Below I am discussing the necessary equipment, safety precautions, and the ingredients in the recipe we'd be making. Many thanks to Karen and Abigail of K and A Soaps for sharing their goat's milk soap recipe with me, as well as helpful pointers for me as a beginning soaper.

Our friend Treasure then demonstrated the technique for making simple glycerin soaps. She made a clear, purple, decorative soap right before our eyes and had several varieties of her soaps on display.

Time to begin making soap!

Participants took turns completing steps in the soapmaking process, from weighing ingredients and stirring the lye solution, to measuring essential oils and mixing with the stick blender.

Here we are measuring the base oils in our recipe.

 

Everyone prepared the soap molds so we’d be ready to pour: pre-lined cardboard Pop-Tart boxes came in handy for this purpose.

We proceeded to combine all our ingredients and mix them with a stick blender.

It took teamwork to divide the soap between everyone's molds.

We made 2 different batches of soap during the class, a citrus blend and a peppermint blend. In between steps, everyone could also practice cutting sample batches of these soaps into bars. Below shows us starting the process of our second batch.

Everyone was eager to get involved with the final feature of our day: hand-rolling soap balls. You can create these balls from soap shavings you’ve saved up (we used grated Ivory), fragrance, and botanicals for accenting.

Our hands became messy but very delicious-smelling! And after the rain we received, the deck should be squeaky clean now.

So, that was our day! It was a fun day fellowshipping and learning this craft together. Many went home hoping to make soap on their own. We are definitely considering planning another class in the spring. If anyone reading is within driving distance, let us know if you'd like to be put on the list to be contacted. We'd love for you to join us.

~Hannah

Comments

[Rose]

What a great day! 'm teaching myself soap making and would have loved to be a fly on the wall -- or a Rose in a chair. (giggle)

[Tammy]

Looks like it was real exciting and fun.

[Chris]

What a breautiful day for your class! I would have loved to have been there. The soap looks so pretty all cut in your photo.

[victoria]

I have made soap before and was amazed by the results. I love the homemade scented soaps. Your class looks like it was lots of fun!

Victoria

[Cindi]

I would like to be on the list, I have wanted to learn to make soap for a long time!

[Dorothy]

How exciting! I've wanted to make soap for so long! Maybe you could add a soap store on your sidebar, right along side the baskets and cards. :-)

[Marla Bosworth]

Looks like a great soap making class!

[hannah]

Hi, Rose, be sure to post about your soap-making so I can see the results! We would have loved having an Aussie join our class...;)

Tammy, it was! Now we have all this real soap leftover to actually use!

Mrs. O, we would've loved to have had you join us...maybe you and Laura can make it out here one day.

Victoria, neat to hear that you have had experience with soap. Maybe we can share notes sometime. I love using the results, too.

Cindi, we will be sure to let you know when a another class is planned!

Mrs. H, good idea. That has been talked about. :)
I may have some ready just in time for Christmas.

Marla, I enjoyed browsing your site and reading about your classes.

[Kathy]

What an engaging activity. It looks like everyone was enjoying it.

[Amber]

Looks like a lot of fun! I'm so glad it went well. :) I'm sad we weren't able to be there! But I'm pleased you had good weather and a safe and fun time. Thanks for posting about it!

[Jo]

What a lovely day you all seem to have had! I've never made soap, but I'd love to learn one of these days.

[Islandsparrow]

That sounds like fun - they would make such nice gifts! (I'm not hinting - lol! just thinking ahead for my own Christmas list!!)

[Cyndi Muller]

Hi Hannah,
Thanks for emailing me tonight about using raw milk for soapmaking. I did respond to your email and then came to your blog.

Looks like you ladies had a beautiful day (and the good Lord gave you the rain after to clean up any spills!)

The one thing that concerns me is I don't see anyone using eye protection. Safety goggles would be the minimum I'd recommend. I actually use a face shield. It only takes a split second for a stray piece of lye or caustic soap to splash in your eye.

[hannah]

Thanks, Kathy, Amber, Jo, Islandsparrow, and Cyndi for your comments.

Cyndi, I received your email and am thankful for the info! I appreciate your concern on the safety glasses, too. I had participants wear safety glasses when they were the ones dealing closely with the raw soap, mixing, etc, although since several of them wore eye glasses anyway, they went with those. It is true that we are better safe than sorry. :)

[Diane]

what a beautiful day you were blessed with! This looks like lots of fun and I wish I was close enough to join your next adventure in homemaking!