How to make felted soap. This soap is a perfect gift for someone special. You can use simple bar soap and felt it with wool for a unique gift idea.
Just in case you were curious if I knew all the lyrics to that anthemic hit “Am I am Muppet or a Man?”
Just in case you were concerned.
I do.
After yesterday….I know each and every lyric.
“Now I understand who I am
I’m a muppet
I’m a man
I’m a muppet of a man
I’m a manly muppet
That’s what I am”
You’d know them too….if you had driven 10 hours yesterday in a car with that catchy tune playing over and over and over again.
As you listened and empathized with Walter the muppet and Gary the man as they agonized over their roles in this world and ponder the basic questions of life….
……all set to a melodious score.
I was trying to write about felting soap….but Walter’s and Gary’s introspective discussion kept distracting me.
I wanted to see how it resolved.
I was riveted.
I couldn’t concentrate as I listened with great intensity. How could anyone write about felted soap when no one knew if Walter was a muppet or a man?
Seriously.
I had no idea that Muppets: The Musical would be such a deep intense philosophical dissection of our place in the universe.
The Muppets as philosophers.
Who knew?
Next time we go on a road trip, though, I’m going with something a little lighter…..
…..like Boris Pasternak’s Dr. Zhivago 🙂
How To Make Felted Soap
(tutorial brought to you by Muppets: The Musical)
Ingredients:
Scented Bar Soap
Wool Roving
Nylon Stocking
Cold Water
Hot Water
Friction
Patience
Step 1: find the soap
Find old bar soap in back of bathroom closet to use with project.
Wonder if soap ever expires?
Look for expiration date.
Shrug and proceed.
Thin wool roving out until you can almost see through it and place bar soap in center.
Step 2: wrap soap
Wrap almost expired soap in wool roving.
Tuck in at ends.
Lightly cover soap with wool.
If you have too much wool it will bunch off soap….too little wool and you can see the soap.
Step 3: add more colors of roving
Adhere to the philosophy that why have one color of wool roving when you can have three.
Add two or three colors with little strips of wool roving.
Stretch and thin wool roving until it covers the bar of soap.
Step 4: drizzle hot water
Drizzle a little hot water on soap and press wool very gently together.
Step 5: put it inside nylon
Insert bar of soap wrapped in wool roving into the nylon stocking.
Sprinkle a little more cool water until the soap starts to foam up inside nylon.
Gently rub wool on soap….alternating hot water and cool water.
This is where the patience comes in.
And the friction.
After a few minutes….the soap will lather and the wool will start to contract (or felt) onto the soap. At this point you will be lathering the soap up in your hands like you were washing them.
The nylon helps hold the wool into place until you have finished the felting process.
Keep rubbing the wool until it tightens around the soap.
It may take 10-12 minutes….but eventually the wool will tighten and form a casing around the soap.
Step 6: wipe off lather
Remove soap carefully from nylon.
Wipe excess lather off with a paper towel.
Set out to dry in sun for about 10 minutes.
When dry….it’s ready to use.
It was a long, but productive car ride home.
Where else would I have written a soap tutorial to the introspective questions of our very existence?
Eventually, Walter and Gary resolved their differences and the movie ended and silence reigned.
I thought we were done.
It seems we were just getting started.
Another soap opera was just around the corner.
You see I had no idea what was up next. I was completely unaware of the worries and woes……
……of Barbie the Princess and Barbie the Pop Star. 🙂
PS Here are some other felted projects you can make:
How To Make Felted Soap
Equipment
- Pair of Scissors
- Wool Felt
- Soap
Ingredients
- 1 bar Scented Soap
- 1 section Wool Roving
- 1 Nylon Stocking
- Cold Water
- Hot Water
- Friction
- Patience
Instructions
- Step 1: Find a bar of soapBuy a bar soap or find one in the back of the bathroom closet to use with project.Thin wool roving out until you can almost see through it and place bar soap in center.
- Step 2: Wrap the soapWrap almost expired soap in wool roving.Tuck in at ends.Lightly cover soap with wool.If you have too much wool it will bunch off soap….too little wool and you can see the soap.
- Step 3: Add additional rovingAdhere to the philosophy that why have one color of wool roving when you can have three.Add two or three colors with little strips of wool roving.Stretch and thin wool roving until it covers the bar of soap.
- Step 4: Drizzle hot waterDrizzle a little hot water on soap and press wool very gently together.
- Step 5: Put it inside the nylonInsert bar of soap wrapped in wool roving into the nylon stocking.Sprinkle a little more cool water until the soap starts to foam up inside nylon.Gently rub wool on soap….alternating hot water and cool water.This is where the patience comes in.And the friction.After a few minutes….the soap will lather and the wool will start to contract (or felt) onto the soap. At this point you will be lathering the soap up in your hands like you were washing them.The nylon helps hold the wool into place until you have finished the felting process.Keep rubbing the wool until it tightens around the soap.It may take 10-12 minutes….but eventually the wool will tighten and form a casing around the soap.
- Step 6: Wipe off excess latherRemove soap carefully from nylon.Wipe excess lather off with a paper towel.Set out to dry in sun for about 10 minutes.When dry….it’s ready to use.
Hmm... who knew the Muppets were that deep - lol. Great tutorial Kari.
What a cool tutorial, Kari! And I clearly need to go back and listen to the muppets for all those nuances... :-) Happy Monday, friend! xo Heidi
You wash with FELT??? This is way bigger than the Muppets.
What a great project ...and so pretty, too! Thanks for the tutorial! I need to put these on my Christmas To-Do List for gifts! I'd really impress my in-laws with this one! :)
Go ahead and start laughing now because ... This is completely new to me. I never heard of wool roving. I guess I need to get out more. And, it does look pretty. You need to educate me more on this, KariAnne.
OK this looks really neat. But like Beverly I have obviously been living under a rock LOL. Is this a decor item for show or do you use this. Where did this 'process develop if you know? Is there a purpose or benefit, if this is for use? Sorry for all the questions but would love to know more about this. Thank you for sharing this with us. Perhaps one day you can fill us all in on the perils of Barbie land. ( no kids at home anymore. LOL). Hope you had a great weekend.
great idea...pinned it for future DIY projects. :) you guys have way too much fun on road trips!
oh my goodness K! gone are the day of muppets for me...now it is just Taylor Swift and Justin Beiber... secretivly I don't mind:) I have NEVER heard of felted wood soap...incredible Have a ROCKIN Monday...xo
Hello! I just joined you from Cozy Inspirations. This is a fabulous idea! I just made a batch of soap a few weeks ago and it turned out such an ugly colour. By using this felting technique I can make my intended purpose for some of the soap, Christmas packages, even cuter. Thank you!!! p.s. Soap like women improves with age. :-)
Hmmm...you learn something new everyday. I never heard of felted soap and now I know how to make it:) Looks like a great idea for Christmas presents! Enjoy your week! Leann
Now, I know after Elton John reads this, he will be inspired to write "Muppet Man".... Felted wool soap?...This is a new one for me...it looks really cool!!...so unique!! Have a great Monday Kari!!
I will raise my hand for the "never heard of felted soap" group. And, trying to understand why one would want some? Won't it get all sticky/gloopy/droopy? Is this the kind of soap that just goes in a pretty dish and you don't actually use (like my Grandma used to have in her bathroom?) Feeling like I belong in the Blackbirds group of the home decor class...(instead of the Robins or Bluejays) :-)
What a great innovation..thanks for sharing...
Lol. I had to Google felted soap to understand because I had never heard of it either! It's your soap & washcloth in one and shrinks along with the soap. Too cool! It also said wool has natural anti-fungal properties and will retain its freshness. Good to know! :-)
Very cool and a new one for me! I love the look! You always have the coolest ideas!! Leslie
Awesome. Now where do I get the wool roving?
Hi, I just made two bars of the felted soap. As I was making it and it was turning out just as you said, I started to ask myself, "Why" am I making it, then I read up on all the comments and realize it's benfits along with it's uniqueness! It must have meant to be, since I was at Hobby Lobby and turned down the wrong aisle and lo and behold there on the shelf was Artiste 100% wool roving! It costs $1.99 for 0.5 ounces and I covered 2 large bars of soap and can probably do another 2. Thanks for the idea and the instructions!
We can duet since I too know all the words to Am I a Muppet or a Man. Which do you want to be - Gary or Walter? Kelly
What on earth is felted soap for?? I've never heard of it before. You've done a magnificent job, it looks fabulous and your tutorial is awesome. I commend you for listening to the muppets for that long, I've only ever been able to stand the two old guys and the swedish chef for short spells... lol xox
ahhh yes...deep...giggle. The muppets! love this post. Oh and thank you for the tutorial too xo
Ahh Barbie and the princess and the popstar I've seen that old classic twice this week :) great post!
These little soaps are too cute!! Love the little tags you added as well! Great tutorial!!
Once again you amaze and crack me up a the same time. Felted soap is definately on the to do list. I must add that someday, in an ulikely place, like juvenile court, those lyrics may come in handy. My oldest son, now 34 and a Harvard graduate (really), had a minor scrape with the law that required a court appearance. At the age of 15 he didn't do the deed, but was there. The judge asked me my thoughts and I told her that we used to read a story, featuring Bert and Ernie. The end of the story was "If someone else does something stupid you don't have to do it too" We read that story over and over. She loved it and requested a copy. He has never even gotten a speeding ticket since then and is a great guy in MHO. Keep those memories close.
It was all about Winnie The Pooh, and Buzz & Woody at our house. I missed out on the whole Muppet melodrama! I feel so left out ;) Great project, you could do that with any color wool and make fun, hand crafted stocking stuffers.
I'm so glad the Muppet staged is all over at our house! On the other hand I guess I'm also living under a rock , I had no idea felted soaps existed! Though they look great!
I almost got as amused reading the comments as the blog, this time! :) I, too, am of the "what in the WORLD" is felted soap community! What a cool concept, though! Thanks for googling it for me, Stephanie! ;) LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, the newest Muppet movie. Muppets are the under-appreciated psychologists of our times, I think. They and Bob Newhart.
(Raising hand really high) Ew, Ew, Ew ... Teacher! Excuse me, Teacher! What does one do with felted soap exactly? And can I make Tweeded Soap or Burlap soap or velvet soap? Jk. I am a farm gal and thought I had heard of about everything but I have to be honest. I have never heard of this. But I do know it is beautiful and would make lovely gifts. I'm gonna have to do some research on this one for sure. Love the varying colors of wool. Adds so much more interest. Also I feel your pain. The boys watched The Incredibles all the way back from Florida. All 11.5 hours. I think I can recite that movie word for word. :) Xxoo
This totally made me laugh! My husband walks around singing this song all of the time, if you hear it once it never leaves your brain. It's like on repeat! Such a cute tutorial, I have never seen this before!!
So glad to see I'm not the only one who doesn't know about felted soap! LOL! And, yes, the Muppets were a big deal at our house when our daughters were young -- they still love them! The Muppets are timeless!
But isn't a Muppet simply a puppet with a Man's hand stuck up its butt? :) me
First, I have to say that I don't think soap has an expiration date. I had a 60 year old bar of dove soap in its original wrapping as part of a display in my bathroom when my EX husband decided to use it in the shower. I came in and found the wrapping in the trashcan. Ha!!! and he's still wondering why he is an ex. I love the tutorial, but don't get me started on that Muppet song :) Hugs, Laura
Very cute. I wonder how those Etsy people get pictures into the above mentioned felted soaps. Amazing!
I was out of the race the minute I saw "patience" as an ingredient:) Jessica
Lovely! A least your picture of the Felted Soap all finished and dressed up is. Quite. However, this suburban girl who goes for walks in the country but knows little of life on the farm is thinking that maybe your tutorial needs a pre-tutorial for silly willies like me. Like...where does this wool come from? Do I steal if from a sheep? And why do I want to put said wool around an expired bar of soap? And does it need to be scented? And doesn't wet wool not smell so nice? And why do I want a piece of wool around my soap? Besides looking really country cute? Happy Monday!
Such a cute post KariAnne and love your felted soap! So neat!
That's a great tutorial, who knew that you could do such a thing? The older I get, the more blogs I visit and the smarter I get! Thank you, those would make nice Christmas gifts to my girls. Have a wonderful week. Cindy
DARLING! And what a great gift idea. Thank you for sharing! xoxo
Hmmm.....I was really happy when I saw others that ask "why felted soap?" Is it a rural thing that I've overlooked? Is it a Texas thing that followed you to Kentucky? I will be googling this!
I don't think I have ever seen felted soap before......................how cool
I LOVE this - although it seems a little time intensive! Is wool roving a buy on the internet thing? or available at craft stores?
I'm way behind on commenting & catching up on your blog. And how thankful I am for that... BECAUSE... I'm relieved to see, that I'm not the only one who has not heard of this kind of soap. I resisted all urges to Google for an explanation, and decided to just openly admit my ignorance on this subject as well as this Muppet Musical you speak of. It is very pretty! Is it some sort of exfoliating bar??? Just a guess. I'd love to know where this originated, inquiring minds want to know! :)
I even have my husband hooked on felted soap because the wool exfoliates and moisturizes with the lanolin at the same time you get clean....it is remarkably efficient! My legs are so much softer now. I am glad you stopped to contemplate muppet and humanness to bring me these simple instructions...Christmas gift for everyone I know. Oh, by the way, it is my understanding theat when the soap runs out, simply slicing open and inserting new soap and applying the felting process again....
"Shrug and proceed" -- Haha! Thanks for the tutorial - I've had the supplies for ages and now with your instructions, about to give it a go ....