Teach Soap

I've been trying to do an in the pot swirl, I used to do it with two colors, but thought I'd try with three. With the first batch I didn't reserve enough white and what I did have traced quickly, so when I poured the colors into the white, they didn't penetrate and it was a mixed failure. Some looks really cool. Some looks...welllll....not so cool.

Tonight I tried again and I think I misjudged my colors, I wanted blue and green with a little bit of black. My blue morphed to grey, then lavender. That's okay. But even though I tried to do it all at thin trace, my white wound up looking almost riced and my three swirl colors all blended to a not so lovely grey. Thankfully I reserved enough to do a decent swirl on top. I'm kinda skeptical about what's going on with the white soap, I may need to toss the batch.

So, I am just puzzled...do I need a thinner soap? I'm using recipes I found on the BB site for the 2 pound loaf mold. I'm mixing oils and lye at about 110 degrees, and move quickly as I can. Maybe I should try it unscented?

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Logansama aka Belinda
Nor Cal

I feel for you. Swirls are not my thing. I never seemed to get the kind of swirls I was hoping for. The soap always seemed to set up too fast, or maybe I just moved too slow! Anyway, the best luck I've had is with a spoon swirl, you know the kind I mean? Two or three layers, and the soap actually needs to be thicker, then scoop with a spoon. If it's the thickness of the batter that's tripping you up, maybe this would work for you. I know I haven't explained it very well, but there are lots of videos that do, on you tube.

I think the recipe I used was too high in solid oils...coconut, palm and a little shea. I did manage to salvage one by spoon plopping it, and it actually looks kinda cool, the white stayed white. In last night's batch, the colors all blended though I was careful when I poured into the pot. I guess I'll keep trying and just appreciating what I do get! LOL! So far the only swirl that's turned out as I planned has been a Mantra swirl. I SO wanted to try out the squirty swirls and peacock!

Oh well...

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Logansama aka Belinda
Nor Cal

Send me a PM with your recipe and additives, I can take a look and see if I can help =) I do 6-12 colour ITP swirls with a recipe that is over 70% solid oils, so it is possible

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

for those that swirl. do you ever get the same swirl all the time? if so, how do you do it ?

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~~~Cheryl~~~

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

lol. That is what makes them so individual like we are also..

I'm going to try some swirls today. maybe this time I'll do 2 colors.. I love soaping so much. I'm glad I just make 2 pound batches.

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~~~Cheryl~~~

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If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane
~Jimmy Buffett

I've got to get me some black. Ilove that two black swirl you have. Now is the fire, does that have black in it also?

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~~~Cheryl~~~

you've got some great looking soaps there That red white and blue is perfect.

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~~~Cheryl~~~

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If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane
~Jimmy Buffett

I don't think you'll want to..then again,
just follow the last notes.. and see what happens..

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~~~Cheryl~~~

My black, blue, green batch actually came out kinda interesting. The green blended into the black and so depending on the cut, the green kind of glows through. So none actually "failed," they just started setting up before I was ready. Hesty, I'll gather those recipes and send them on soon.

I've done really well with the Mantra Swirl type, its everything else that tries to run together in a mess.

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Logansama aka Belinda
Nor Cal

Just a follow up on this batch: I posted a few of each ready soap I have on Etsy, and sold out of the Black/Blue/Green swirl! To my eye it was pretty ugly but the ladies who bought it loved it! LOL! Go figure. I guess I'll try it again and try to pour at very, very thin trace.

I'm learning!

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Logansama aka Belinda
Nor Cal