SMF October 2024 Challenge - Flannel and Knit

[Tammyfarms]

To enter the October 2024 SMF Challenge, copy and paste these instructions and the entire list into a new post, adding your name and the next number at the bottom.

Sign-up list:
1. Ackosel - this is way above my experience and skill level, but I'm going to try it anyway.
2. Tammyfarms - my supplies arrive tonight. Should be able to get soap made this week.

 

[Tammyfarms]

It's been kind of lonely on this thread! I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb, but if I didn't sign up right away, I might not have ever done it. It's already been a fun learning experience, but it'll be even more fun when more people register for the challenge.

I just joined you! Hopefully more people will sign up!

 

[ackosel]

I just joined you! Hopefully more people will sign up!

Hooray, I'm no longer an only child!

My next bin of apples comes this weekend. I hope I can make another stab at a challenge soap before then. Our weather is changing from beautiful sunshine and mid 70s to rain and snow with highs in the 40s. Lots of things to button up outside before the weather changes!

 

[bookworm42]

To enter the October 2024 SMF Challenge, copy and paste these instructions and the entire list into a new post, adding your name and the next number at the bottom.

Sign-up list:
1. Ackosel - this is way above my experience and skill level, but I'm going to try it anyway.
2. Tammyfarms - my supplies arrive tonight. Should be able to get soap made this week.
3. Bookworm42 - just got my stuff today. Let's see if I have enough time.

 

[Tammyfarms]

Hooray, I'm no longer an only child!

My next bin of apples comes this weekend. I hope I can make another stab at a challenge soap before then. Our weather is changing from beautiful sunshine and mid 70s to rain and snow with highs in the 40s. Lots of things to button up outside before the weather changes!

We are neighbors! When I saw your weather is just like ours I looked at your profile. I am in the panhandle of Idaho. This fall has been amazing.

Yay @bookworm42, glad you joined the party!

 

[ackosel]

Yay, the Knit and Plaid family is growing!

Yes, winter is coming to western Montana. Not sure I'm ready for snow...

 

[Tammyfarms]

Yay, the Knit and Plaid family is growing!

Yes, winter is coming to western Montana. Not sure I'm ready for snow...

I’m never ready, love the first snows but our home is in a snow belt so the first snow usually means we have snow on the ground until April or May. I have been thoroughly enjoying the past couple weeks.

 

[AliOop]

To enter the October 2024 SMF Challenge, copy and paste these instructions and the entire list into a new post, adding your name and the next number at the bottom.

Sign-up list:
1. Ackosel - this is way above my experience and skill level, but I'm going to try it anyway.
2. Tammyfarms - my supplies arrive tonight. Should be able to get soap made this week.
3. Bookworm42 - just got my stuff today. Let's see if I have enough time.
4. AliOop - I made soap, so I'm in!
5.

 

[AliOop]

So today I got to make some soap - the first soap since last month's challenge, actually.

I experimented with creating a knit texture on top of the soap by first drawing lines with a fork across the length of the loaf, and then lightly pressing more lines over the top of the first ones but running perpendicular to them. Of course, this was the one time that my batter didn't trace fast, even with my oils at 140ºF. What's up with that? Maybe it was the OMH FO, but I don't remember it slowing trace before.

Still, I did manage to get what looks a bit like knit texture when I squint at it. We will see what it looks like tomorrow. If it works, this may be an easy way to make a knit texture that requires no impression mat or mad soaping skills, lol.

A little leftover batter went into cavity molds, so I did the tops of those, too. Once I can unmold the cavity soaps, I'll post some pics since they will not be my entry soaps.

 

[ackosel]

I pre-measured all my oils, made & measured an essential oil blend and pre-mixed colorants last night so I can get right into making embeds after milking this morning.

My first attempt at buffalo plaid ended up looking more like checkers than plaid. If attempt two is no better, I might give up on plaid and try knitting soap with a fork and see how that goes.

 

[ackosel]

I used Moroccan red clay as one of my colorants. Since I'm using goat milk in my soap, I dispersed the clay in fresh milk instead of oil or water. I left it in the fridge overnight and used it this morning. The stuff turned the soap geryish PURPLE! I always get a darker-than-I-wanted reddish brown with that clay. It's a really neat color, but won't work with the colors I'm going for in this plaid. We'll have to see how it comes out after it gels, but this is an interesting experiment. I'm dying to see if the color changes as it cures. I'll have to see what my other clays look like mixed with milk... Reminds me of some of the colorant experiments @justsomeguy has shared.

 

[bookworm42]

I've always made my soap at night before bed. Had a chance to make some around 12 for the beginning of my plaid. It was cool to check on it every so often and watch it go through gel.

 

[justsomeguy]

I hope to be able to join all y'all but there's only a tiny chance of it happening

 

[ackosel]

I hope to be able to join all y'all but there's only a tiny chance of it happening

We're rooting for you!

 

[justsomeguy]

We're rooting for you!

I'm upgrading my molds to silicone lined. No more messy wrinkly freezer paper. hoping to produce even better looking soaps

 

[bookworm42]

My next bin of apples comes this weekend.

My DH decided to surprise me by coming home with 2 big boxes of apples last night. He was jealous of all your appley goodness I guess.
Hopefully I can find time to soap in-between batches of dried apples and applesauce!

 

[ackosel]

My DH decided to surprise me by coming home with 2 big boxes of apples last night. He was jealous of all your appley goodness I guess.
Hopefully I can find time to soap in-between batches of dried apples and applesauce!

I am so thankful for my teenage and preteen helpers! Remembering the days when I did it all myself with infants & toddlers underfoot... Now, I do it with big helpers AND infants & toddlers underfoot!

 

[AliOop]

Here is a non-entry picture of some cavity-mold soaps, where I experimented with using a fork to create a knit look to the top of them. To me, it looks like a knit texture, but y'all don't have to agree (and pardon the squished sides as I unmolded too soon during a quick work break). I do think this is a viable option because most of you could certainly do better than I did with this technique. I just am not skilled with things that require detailed and coordinated hand movements!

 

[ackosel]

Here is a non-entry picture of some cavity-mold soaps, where I experimented with using a fork to create a knit look to the top of them. To me, it looks like a knit texture, but y'all don't have to agree (and pardon the squished sides as I unmolded too soon during a quick work break). I do think this is a viable option because most of you could certainly do better than I did with this technique. I just am not skilled with things that require detailed and coordinated hand movements!

View attachment 79398

Looks better than my knitting!

 

[AliOop]

Looks better than my knitting!

TBH, it looks better than any actual knitting I could do, too!