Cold Process Soap Making
A beginners guide to cold process soap making
Workshop Details
Workshop Overview
Historically, soap was made from animal fat. All farmer’s wives used to make soap to keep their families clean. Nowadays, plant based fats tend to be used in favour of animal fats. Hand crafting your own soap is a creative skill and something you may wish to learn about for pleasure or with a view to exploring business opportunities.
At the Rural Skills Centre, we teach you the basic skills needed to make soap along with a brief history of soap making. You will find out which equipment is essential and which isn’t. You will learn about the different qualities individual oils bring to hand crafted, artisan soap and the importance of safe working.
This one day course will enable you to make soaps that will impress friends and relatives. A full-on day of soap making with lots to learn and lots to make home. All ingredients and equipment is supplied for you to make your soaps but you will need to bring some towels to keep your soaps warm on the journey home. The workshop also makes a wonderful gift is you are looking for a present.
What You Will Learn
During this workshop, you will:
- Examine the essential equipment used for cold process soap making;
- Discuss the characteristics and qualities of oils (hard and liquid) used in cold process soap making;
- Follow health and safety procedures when working with lye;
- Experiment with essential/fragrance oils;
- Make a basic batch of scented cold process soap;
- Experiment with colourants and swirling techniques;
- Make a coloured cold process soap batch;
- Discuss the logistics of moulding and curing soap;
- Experiment with creative ideas for wrapping finished soaps.
What You Take Home
At the end of this workshop, you will take home two batches (one plain, one coloured) of beautifully hand crafted artisan soap which once set will make approximately 20-24 bars.
Important Details
The Rural Skills Centre will provide:
- All materials and equipment to make your soap;
- Tea/Coffee and lots of cake;
- Lunch (let us know if you have any specific dietary requirements);
- Parking;
- Accessible facilities.
Please bring or wear:
- Bath towels for wrapping your soaps;
- wear anything with long sleeves;
- Full length trousers or skirt;
- Closed toe footwear.
Suitability
This workshop is suitable for beginners over the age of 16 due to the nature of some of the ingredients used. No previous experience is necessary, this workshop will show you the basics first.
Schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | Tea and biscuits on arrival, registration and welcome |
| 10:15 | Essential equipment activity |
| 10:45 | Basic soap demonstration |
| 11:15 | Tea and cake |
| 11:30 | Make your first batch of soap |
| 12:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30 | Soap cutting and curing demonstration |
| 14:00 | Coloured and swirled soap demonstration |
| 14:30 | Make your second batch of soap |
| 15:45 | Packaging ideas |
| 16:00 | Workshop finishes |
Tutors
This workshop is taught by Gill and Kate from Jones the Foam.