SMF September 2024 Challenge - Feathered Mantra Swirl

[Servant4Christ]

I definitely plan to try this technique again (possibly tonight if I can build another contraption in time) with one batter, divided and colored to see if the swirl turns out better. My swirl doesn't look feather-like at all due to one of the colors being much thicker than the others. It didn't help matters when I realized I never picked something to swirl with and had to run around looking for something to use... I raided the kids art supplies and used the handle of a paint brush.

 

[McKherring Farm]

Weeellllllll.....this is my "hmmmm.....that didn't quite work out" post. LOL. I thought I would give the feather swirl a try despite not having a slab mold. Or dividers.
Step 1 - create dividers with heavy cardboard - they actually worked well

Step 2 - pour in three colors - orange was supposed to be gold. Hmmm...maybe it will change with cure

Step 3 - first pass left to right, right to left horizontal. I don't think I made the passes close enough together

Step 4 - second pass moving diagonal. Hindsight....I think I was focused so much on the path to follow, that I forgot to push my tool all the way to the bottom. Either way...no feathers.

Step 5 - The cut. LOL. Ummm....oh well, it smells great and NO cracking because I followed some advice, put the loaf on cans and had fans blowing on it. I did pay the price of not tapping the mold after pouring - air bubbles!! I was afraid it would mess the colors up if I did. Lesson learned!

Now it's a personal challenge!! I shall try again today.

 

[AliOop]

I like the colors,@Tammyfarms! It looks to me like you didn’t cut it correctly, and that’s the only reasonyou didn’t get the swirls.

For a loaf mold like that, you need to first slice the whole loaf in half horizontally. When you open those two halves, you will see the swirl. Then cut the bars to size with the swirl facing up.

 

[bookworm42]

@McKherring Farm it looks so pretty!

 

[McKherring Farm]

I like the colors,@Tammyfarms! It looks to me like you didn’t cut it correctly, and that’s the only reasonyou didn’t get the swirls.

For a loaf mold like that, you need to first slice the whole loaf in half horizontally. When you open those two halves, you will see the swirl. Then cut the bars to size with the swirl facing up.

OMG!! How did I miss that?? I just cut the bars horizontally and....feathers. Not super great feathers, but feathers none the less. So many lessons learned here. Thank you.

 

[Servant4Christ]

I was wondering if you cut the wrong direction, too, because yours is way more uniform than mine. I don't think I made my first swirls close enough either, but the second swirl is definitely botched. You certainly couldn't identify this particular swirl by just looking at my soap.

 

[AliOop]

OMG!! How did I miss that?? I just cut the bars horizontally and....feathers. Not super great feathers, but feathers none the less. So many lessons learned here. Thank you.

It's easy to do - and exactly what I did with my first Taiwan swirl. There is another way to cut it where you chop the loaf vertically in thirds, and then turn each "chunk" 90º, and cut it again. But I always mess that up! It so much easier to cut the whole loaf horizontally and go from there.

 

[ackosel]

I definitely plan to try this technique again (possibly tonight if I can build another contraption in time) with one batter, divided and colored to see if the swirl turns out better. My swirl doesn't look feather-like at all due to one of the colors being much thicker than the others. It didn't help matters when I realized I never picked something to swirl with and had to run around looking for something to use... I raided the kids art supplies and used the handle of a paint brush.

I did the same thing and ended up using a BIC pen.

 

[Servant4Christ]

I did the same thing and ended up using a BIC pen.

I almost did the same but noticed a tiny little crack near the end piece and couldn't bring myself to try it.

 

[Servant4Christ]

It's easy to do - and exactly what I did with my first Taiwan swirl. There is another way to cut it where you chop the loaf vertically in thirds, and then turn each "chunk" 90º, and cut it again. But I always mess that up! It so much easier to cut the whole loaf horizontally and go from there.

I don't have a slab cutter or I definitely would've used it for this challenge. I have a cheese cutter that I DIY'd into a wire cutter. I added a 2.5 inch line to my cutter today just for this challenge, then I turned them and cut at just over 1inch as usual. I've already cut mine, but still need to clean up the edges and take pics. My swirl, while not really feather-like, did go all the way through to the bottom.

 

[Servant4Christ]

Question: Am I supposed to enter a pic of the bottom before I plane it?

 

[Mobjack Bay]

@McKherring Farm - You were so close! I’m happy to hear that you’re going to give it another try.

@Servant4Christ - Feel free to plane the bottom face of the bar before you take the photograph.

For those of you who don’t have a slab cutter - I think it’s easier to use the method where you cut the soap vertically into chunks before you turn it on a cut end to make the cuts that are parallel with the original surface of the soap. It’s so hard to explain with words! The guidance @dibbles provided for cutting the woodgrain design also works for cutting this design. I provided that link in the top post.

This YT video by Holly’s Soapmaking also shows how to use the approach where you cut the soap in chunks before turning the soap to cut the individual bars. Although she’s using a Hercules cutter, the same cuts can be made with a knife and/or a wire/cheese cutter.

 

[McKherring Farm]

Okay....attempt #2. It's a shame this isn't an inkblot challenge. LOL. This fragrance (Christmas Frost) went to "pudding" very quickly so I was afraid things wouldn't turn out so well. I have only had that happen once before with a different fragrance. I was really hustling to get it "poured"..."plopped" into the mold, between the dividers, with lots of thumping the mold to hopefully, get the gaps filled and air bubbles out. And...great smelling soap with no feathers. Ugh! I did the cut in thirds, then 90 degrees method from the video, but.....something didn't go quite as planned.

Pic 1 - top right is top surface after the second swirl. Other three are horizontal cuts under the top.

I will have to market these as "bath soaps for large hands". They are BIG bars compared to my usual. My next attempt will be after the official challenge ends, but I have to figure this out. It's driving me crazy at this point! You guys have sure posted some beautiful feather swirls!

 

[ackosel]

What a lot of work and effort you put in! I didn't even register for the challenge, but I made two attempts. Your soaps turned out better than my tries!

@Mobjack Bay, would it be stepping out of line if I shared my failed attempts here? I didn't even register for the challenge since I wasn't sure I could get an entry made, but I sure did try the technique.

 

[Tammyfarms]

@ackosel I hope you so share your photos!
I have been quiet as I wasn’t sure I would have time to make a soap, it has been a really busy month. Sure enough, no soap made this month. I am definitely going to try this technique though!
All the soaps entered so far are beautiful. I’m loving the colors used by @dmcgee5034! You are my color mixing hero. @Servant4Christ those colors are a beautiful combo and I really like the pattern you achieved. @Momma Hoot and @bookworm42 your colors are really nice! Can’t wait to see the rest of the entries.

 

[bookworm42]

@ackosel I agree post your pics! It's fun to see what everyone does and the colors they pick.

Here's a pic of a batch. Didn't quite get the feathering. Learned I needed a bigger chopstick. Also learned that I like the contrast white brings.

 

[AliOop]

What a lot of work and effort you put in! I didn't even register for the challenge, but I made two attempts. Your soaps turned out better than my tries!

@Mobjack Bay, would it be stepping out of line if I shared my failed attempts here? I didn't even register for the challenge since I wasn't sure I could get an entry made, but I sure did try the technique.

You can absolutely share the attempts you made!

 

[Cindy D.]

Here is my non entry soap, I forgot to get a shot of it before cutting. No time to make another, I feel blessed to have made this one after spending several days sneezing and blowing my nose, because of histamine reactions.

Love all your entries!

 

[Mobjack Bay]

Yes, @ackosel and anyone else, please feel free to post to this thread any and all attempts and even if you did not sign up for the challenge.

I will be closing the entry thread in a couple of hours at 11:59 pm GMT. If you have an entry that you haven’t uploaded, the time is now!

 

[McKherring Farm]

Here is my non entry soap, I forgot to get a shot of it before cutting. No time to make another, I feel blessed to have made this one after spending several days sneezing and blowing my nose, because of histamine reactions.

Love all your entries!

I love those colors and your pattern!!