SMF February 2021 Challenge - Circling Taiwan Swirl

[SPowers]

There will be a separate entry thread for the challenge entry photos. It hasn't been opened yet. From the stated SMF Challenge rules:

4. A separate entry thread will be created and this is where you will post photos of your entry soap. Please do not post photos of your entry until the entry thread is opened. Post pictures of your entry soap only in the challenge entry thread.

Non-entry photos are always welcome and may be posted in the general challenge thread. The challenge thread should be used to upload pictures of any of your challenge attempts (other than your entry) where you can ask for advice and discuss the technique with other members, and provide helpful hints you learned along the way.

I posted pic since I saw others... I was thinking it would be pics of the 'cut' soap that shouldn't be seen in advance but because of the design on top, I totally understand.

 

[SPowers]

Love it! It was like being there with you. Hope your arm isn't too bad this morning!

I still have a red circle on the top of my foot from a small spill last May! Hope it heals fast for you. But back to your day... you know the phrase 'misery loves company'? Well it's really good to know we are not alone in our trials and tribulations of soap making!

 

[dibbles]

I posted pic since I saw others... I was thinking it would be pics of the 'cut' soap that shouldn't be seen in advance but because of the design on top, I totally understand.

I think to be safe, challenge entry soaps shouldn't be posted anywhere but the entry thread., even if the design is in the cut bars.

 

[Savonette]

I don’t qualify to enter. But since this is the first time this swirl has ever worked for me I’m posting! I cut a couple right side up just to see the cross section. The colors remind me of old comic book colors.

 

[dibbles]

I don’t qualify to enter. But since this is the first time this swirl has ever worked for me I’m posting! I cut a couple right side up just to see the cross section. The colors remind me of old comic book colors.

They are lovely - thank you for sharing!

 

[SPowers]

Surprisingly I salvaged the silicone mold, the wooden box and even some of the soap. The picture shows both sides... one side is very bright whereas the other side is very dull! Not sure which one was closest to the heat source. The scent is burnt plastic! which I don't recommend at all.

 

[Arimara]

I finally got a mold and can attempt this but I'm not entering. I haven't been feeling well as of late and my brain hates the weather.

 

[dibbles]

@Arimara I'm sorry you haven't been feeling well. I hope that changes soon. If you do decide to give it a try, I'd love to see how it turns out.

 

[Arimara]

@Arimara I'm sorry you haven't been feeling well. I hope that changes soon. If you do decide to give it a try, I'd love to see how it turns out.

It needs to stop snowing.

 

[KimW]

Surprisingly I salvaged the silicone mold, the wooden box and even some of the soap. The picture shows both sides... one side is very bright whereas the other side is very dull! Not sure which one was closest to the heat source. The scent is burnt plastic! which I don't recommend at all.

Ya gotta stop posting your soap pics! LOL Not only are they making me jealous, I think they've all been candidates for the entry thread!

 

[Arimara]

Ya gotta stop posting your soap pics! LOL Not only are they making me jealous, I think they've all been candidates for the entry thread!

On the plus side, they're not anymore?

 

[SPowers]

Ya gotta stop posting your soap pics! LOL Not only are they making me jealous, I think they've all been candidates for the entry thread!

Thanks for the vote of confidence but I'm not too happy with the results really... I've been binge watching youtube videos - see several areas where I think I can improve and hoping third time is the charm.

 

[Sudds]

Welcome to the February 2021 SMF Soap Challenge. This month’s challenge is the Circling Taiwan Swirl.

PLEASE READ ALL RULES for the challenge.

SMF Challenge General Rules

1. To enter you must have a minimum of 50 posts and have been a SMF member for at least one month (sorry but no exceptions on this).

2. The only members eligible to vote are those with their names on the sign-up list - regardless of whether or not you have submitted an entry. The sign-up list will be posted in this thread.

3. This month’s voting will be password locked. Passwords will be sent by private message (via SMF conversations) to registered participants ONLY, so please check your messages when the voting begins.

4. A separate entry thread will be created and this is where you will post photos of your entry soap. Please do not post photos of your entry until the entry thread is opened. Post pictures of your entry soap only in the challenge entry thread.

Non-entry photos are always welcome and may be posted in the general challenge thread. The challenge thread should be used to upload pictures of any of your challenge attempts (other than your entry) where you can ask for advice and discuss the technique with other members, and provide helpful hints you learned along the way.

5. Your soap must be made after the monthly challenge has been announced.

6. You are allowed to change your entry photo until the entry thread closes. If you decide you want another try after you post your entry, and you like the second better, you can change it up until the deadline.

7. In the spirit of advancing our soap making skills, all members who sign-up for a SMF Challenge do so with the expectation that they will make every attempt to make a soap for the challenge. Writing about your experience in the challenge is encouraged. By doing so, each participant has a better knowledge of your process when voting. We do understand that sometimes things come up in our lives and throw our plans out of whack, however signing up with no intent to participate and only to vote is not in the spirit of the challenges and is not allowed.

8. Please add your name to the sign-up list if you wish to participate (you don’t have to enter a soap at the end if you don’t feel happy with what you have produced), but please do post your experiences in the main Challenge thread and be prepared to be encouraged to continue trying.

9. Constructive criticism is welcomed, but please keep your comments polite.

* * * *

• Competition entries must be uploaded to the separate entry thread before the closing date.
• The entry thread will open on February 18, 2021 at 11:59 pm GMT (Please follow the challenge specific rules as to what you need to enter).
• After the closing date on February 24, 2021 at 11:59 pm GMT the winning entry will be chosen using Survey Monkey. Voting will be open from February 25-27, 2021 and the winner will be announced on February 28, 2021. There is no prize attached to this challenge.
• If you fail to make the challenge deadline, you are still welcome to upload pictures of your soap onto the thread, but your entry will not be eligible for voting. We always love to see anything you have created.
• Even though there is no prize, this is still a competition. If your entry is deemed not to fulfill the general rules or the rules specific to the challenge in any way, then you will be given the opportunity to amend your entry. If this is not possible, your entry will not be included in the voting.
• All the challenge mods reserve the right to have the final say on whether a soap is eligible for voting.

* * * *
SPECIFIC RULES FOR THE FEBRUARY 2021 CHALLENGE

1. You will make your soap using the Circling Taiwan Technique.

2. You will need to use a log/loaf mold with dividers (either a standard or tall & skinny mold will work for this). If you don’t have dividers, cardboard or corrugated plastic cut to fit will work perfectly well (see photo below). I will also provide a link to a video tutorial to making dividers.

3. You must use at least 3 colors, one of which can be uncolored batter.

4. The swirl tool should be inserted all the way to the bottom of your mold for both the Taiwan Swirl and circling around the edges of the mold. A minimum of 3 complete circles around the edge of the mold must be made, but it is up to you how many more times you want to do this to achieve the look you want.

5. Your soap will be cut horizontally, and your entry photo must include 2 soap bars. See photos below illustrating how to cut (linked videos also include cutting).

HELPFUL TIPS:

1. Choose colors with high contrast.

2. Pour a small amount of each color into each of the divided sections to keep colors seeping under the dividers to a minimum. Then go back and finish pouring each color.

3. Keep something close by to place your dividers in/on when they are pulled from the mold. Even if you scrape the batter off as you pull the dividers out, they are still a bit messy.

4. Note – you will still have a good result if your dividers aren’t perfectly straight. You can see from the photos, I used cardboard that was too thin, and it bowed a little. Likewise, you can see that one of my pink colors ‘disappeared’ when swirling, so don’t be concerned if this happens.

5. I have found that pouring at light trace and waiting for the batter to slightly thicken after the dividers are removed, if necessary, works best for me with my slow-moving lard recipe.

6. I have used a chopstick and a spoon handle as swirl tools.

7. After the perimeter circling is done, I usually run a skewer through the center. I have included a photo where I did this to half of the soap and left the other half as is when the circling is complete.

8. Please ask for clarification, or any questions you have.

9. Have fun, and good luck!

* * * *

Cardboard dividers
View attachment 53712

After the Taiwan Swirl (looks like quite a mess, doesn’t it)
View attachment 53713

After circling the perimeter (I went around 5 times. I also added a center line with a skewer to half the loaf to show an option – you do you!)
View attachment 53714

To cut:
First cut your soap to the length you want it to be (in my case it was about 3”):
View attachment 53716

Turn your block 90 degrees to make the second, horizontal cut through the center of your loaf:
View attachment 53717

The result:
View attachment 53718
View attachment 53719
Helpful links:
How to make dividers by Teri Endsley of Tree Marie Soapworks


Also from Tree Marie Soapworks – Teri has several YouTube videos featuring this technique with a variety of swirling tool sizes. Here is one of them


From MGT Seifen Trend


By Elaine Wright (a long video – the pour starts at about 9:45)


From Brambleberry

 

[Sudds]

Am I thinking the corrugated plastic, although thin, is too thick to use as dividers to do the Circling Taiwan Swirl? I have some thin plastic I get at Joanns to use when I do applique, do any of you know if this would work? I don't think it has a width on it, as I clean all the info off when I put it away. Thanks for any help you can send my way.

 

[AliOop]

Am I thinking the corrugated plastic, although thin, is too thick to use as dividers to do the Circling Taiwan Swirl? I have some thin plastic I get at Joanns to use when I do applique, do any of you know if this would work? I don't think it has a width on it, as I clean all the info off when I put it away. Thanks for any help you can send my way.

I don't think corrugated plastic would work well, as you would have ripples in your soap layers. Sorry, but I am not familiar with the thin plastic that is used for appliqué. If it is flat and fairly rigid, and will stand up to the lye (not all plastic will), it should be fine.

 

[Misschief]

I don't think corrugated plastic would work well, as you would have ripples in your soap layers. Sorry, but I am not familiar with the thin plastic that is used for appliqué. If it is flat and fairly rigid, and will stand up to the lye (not all plastic will), it should be fine.

Coroplast (corrugated plastic) will work just fine (I've used it in the past) but you will see your batter level drop when you pull the dividers out because of the thickness, so you may want to keep that in mind. You won't see any ripples in the batter because you are removing the dividers.

You could even use cardboard wrapped with Saran wrap (or similar product). I've also seen soaper who wrap their cardboard dividers with Duck (or Duct) tape.

 

[dibbles]

@Sudds I used cardboard from a cereal box, reinforced with shipping tape. It was a bit thin and bowed, but you can see from the pictures I posted that it will work. I'm not sure how thin the applique plastic is. I think the flexible plastic cutting mats that are available at the dollar stores would probably also work - two layers taped together if they aren't rigid enough, so doubling up the applique plastic might also be something to try.

The corrugated plastic (coroplast) should work just fine. Even if the material is rippled, it is removed while the soap batter is fluid enough that it shouldn't make a difference, especially since a skewer will be dragged through the batter once the dividers are removed.

I hope this helps. Ask if you still have questions.

 

[Sudds]

I don't think corrugated plastic would work well, as you would have ripples in your soap layers. Sorry, but I am not familiar with the thin plastic that is used for appliqué. If it is flat and fairly rigid, and will stand up to the lye (not all plastic will), it should be fine.

I should have been more specific AliOop, sorry. Think of a heavy-duty piece of cardboard where you have cut down the middle of one of the walls and on the inside, you see a row of squares that run the length of the cardboard sitting next to each other that are in between the inner and outer wall...this is what corrugated plastic looks like. What I have, I think is the smallest they make and it is 5 mm thick (3/16").

 

[AliOop]

I see, so the corrugation (if that's a word? haha) is on the inside, not on the outside edges? Even if it won't make ripples, it does sound a bit thick, esp. if you are working with a tall & skinny mold that has so little room to pour between dividers to begin with. A regular width loaf mold might not be too bad with thicker dividers though.

I didn't want to buy dividers since I wasn't sure if this was a technique that would make it into regular soaping rotation for me. So, I cut up a cracker box to make thin cardboard dividers for my TCS attempt. I wrapped them in plastic packing tape and theoretically could have used them again, had I not been too lazy to clean them up after use.

 

[Sudds]

I don't think corrugated plastic would work well, as you would have ripples in your soap layers. Sorry, but I am not familiar with the thin plastic that is used for appliqué. If it is flat and fairly rigid, and will stand up to the lye (not all plastic will), it should be fine.

I was afraid that was going to be the answer, and I am pretty sure my applique plastic is not sturdy enough. Off to Home Depot or Menards tomorrow. I don't want to use cardboard because I like making things only once and then it's done! I have never done a swirling technique before but want to try, how do you determine how wide you want your rod or stick to be when you go around your mold? I am going to use a fairly narrow stick (popsicle) for the design part but was thinking 3/4" or so of tongue depressor for the outside. What are your thought on this?