Where did you learn to make soap?

[cab54]

For me, this wasn't something my mother did, or even my grandmother (although I bet she did in 'the olden days' on the farm.)

I got (years ago) Melinda Coss's book, The Handmade Soap book. It lays it out so even << I >> can figure out how to make nice bars.

Hers are hot process regular (lye) soaps, not melt and pour type. Her Dream Castile is great and is about all I make now, after trying about 4-5 of her 'recipes'. It even makes a nice shampoo bar, now that my hair is short.

How did you learn?

[zakity]

I read a ton of sites on the net. I have never actually made soap yet.

A local person who makes soap said that they took lye off the market because they make meth out of it or something. But, I was at the local hardware store and they had lye on the shelf. I was going to try to use our fireplace ashes this summer for the lye part. I guess I don't have to.

I can't wait to try it out this summer. Well, maybe not this summer, but at least when I can open the windows up some or it is nice enough to do it outside.

[cab54]

Here's one place you can get lye (sodium hydroxide) online. (I haven't ordered it from here, although I have ordered other things from here----I still have lye from when you could buy it in the store ).

http://www.snowdriftfarm.com/dry.html

[M55FF]

I bought the soapmakers compainion book awhile back but couldnt proceed because of not having a large stainless steel tub or potash.
I've seen some recipes using other things but I wanted "REAL" lye soap to start with and the whole project was put on the back burner and forgotten due to lack of supplies, potash is one of them.
I'd love to learn to make soap, starting with lye soap
and progressing to decorated soap bars... ones with pretty flowers in them, bits of lace, etc..........

maybe baby scorpions in some of them ( clear yellowish tinted bars) for the men ( the macho element.... not to mention they are abundent in the deep south where I am... the scorpions, not the men... lol)



Maybe someday will focus back on it.
Sounds like a cool hobby

[magaka]

I have always wanted to learn, thought it might be fun and help with costs at home...but does it really help save money? If so, how do I get started?

[mommato2kids]

sounds neat. i'll try anything once...... if it's not expensive, LOL!