SoapInTheCity Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 So is there a RIGHT WAY to swirl that makes the swirls so perfect in the soap mold?Really - I should have just asked Brenda, as she never has a bad looking swirled bar........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 So is there a RIGHT WAY to swirl that makes the swirls so perfect in the soap mold?Really - I should have just asked Brenda, as she never has a bad looking swirled bar........ You only see the GOOD ones! For me there are so many variables; some recipes are easier to swirl, and some colors act better when swirling. Then there's the perfect point at which to swirl - if I miss it, there's heck to pay. There are so many soapers whose swirls are awesome! Everyone could post their ideas & tips! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shutterbugg Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 I dont think there is a RIGHT WAY to swirl.. I was taught to swirl after i poured my soap in the mold, nope that didnt work, then i tried swirling in the bowl, nope that didnt work for me, then i tryed using both hands and pouring at the same time into the mold, Walllllla! Thats the only way i can get a decent swirl!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoapInTheCity Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 Will you post a pic of your soap that you swirl by adding both soaps at once, so I can see what that looks like? Shutterbug??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purple Lilac Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Brenda (along with others) do make some beautiful soap but I have found when ones start comparing their product to others or trying to make your soap look like so and so, there is nothing but disappointment and frustration. The soap you (we) make are not "Brenda's Soaps" ( not picking on you Brenda's but she used you as an example) or who ever's, they are YOUR soaps. Soap coloring is an art and we all know that no two artist have the same finished product. IMO there is no "perfect" swirl and it is difficult to duplicate swirls from one batch to another which I am sure Brenda can attest to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shutterbugg Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Will you post a pic of your soap that you swirl by adding both soaps at once, so I can see what that looks like? Shutterbug???Wow had to go way back and find these, i havent soaped in a while, everything is packed up and im going nuts... Here are some of mine JMC logJMC cut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoapInTheCity Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 Because I really have not swirled before when soap making in a long short mold, I just wanted an idea....I just wanted a tip or so from ANYONE...to tell me what works for them. I don't want to COPY anyone's soap swirling!!I just want some tips from people on what worked for them. I understand it's trial and error when soap swirling and every batch doesn't work out perfectly every time due to FO's and different oils, but these message boards are for questions, tips and tricks and that's just why I asked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoapInTheCity Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 Nicely done Shutterbug! I love those colors!!!!Thanks for the picture! My mold is quite similar, and I was going to make a longer, shorter one like the plastic ones you buy with the dividers in them (although I wasn't going to make dividers, that would just be too difficult!)Last night I made a 4 lbs soap mold in the garage.....Man it's fun! It's not professional by any means, but it works for me, and as long as the soap looks good in the end is all that I care about! LOLThanks again Shutterbug!:highfive: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purple Lilac Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Because I really have not swirled before when soap making in a long short mold, I just wanted an idea....I just wanted a tip or so from ANYONE...to tell me what works for them. I don't want to COPY anyone's soap swirling!!I just want some tips from people on what worked for them. I understand it's trial and error when soap swirling and every batch doesn't work out perfectly every time due to FO's and different oils, but these message boards are for questions, tips and tricks and that's just why I asked.I know from experience when I first started making soap that it was frustrating and disappointing when I compared my soap to others or tried to make my soaps look like others. And to this day, I hear the same from many soapers.My point was to encourage ones to continue and let their own creative juice's flow.For all the newbies - yes it's fine to get tips and hints but don't get frustrated when your end results are not the same as someone else's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwahlton Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Swirling is kind of hit or miss and what works for one doesn't work for others. You can do an in the pot swirl by taking out some raw soap, coloring it, then pouring it 2-3 times back into the main soap, then pour THAT into your mold, use a knife or something to swirl. You can do it in the mold, but it's kind of difficult doing that in a log mold. I have better success using a kelsei slab mold, swirl in the mold and the dividers help pull down the swirls too. You are just going to have to experiement to see what works best for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinInOR Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 This is a pretty good tutorial http://www.beauxeaux.com/swirltutorial/howtoswirl.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoapInTheCity Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 I completely agree.......it has been frustrating when I tried to swirl in my regular molds. I thought I had swirled from top to bottom, then I cut the soap and it's not even swirled halfway down! I think sometimes possibly I overmix the soap and let it saponify too much before adding it to the mold because I'm worried that it will be too runny and not saponified enough! Here's my latest one. My intention was to make the color of the swirl very subtle but it just isn't swirled throughout!Lavender Essential Oil Soap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoapInTheCity Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR ROBIN, THANKYOU:yay: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 I need that playing on a video screen when I do my coloring lol! I just keep plugging away at it and hope it will turn out some day, but agree it would be fun to get the swirling technique down. Guess that means I would have to make soap more often Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 That's a good tutorial. I'm going to try that with my next batch! That layering of the color and base sounds like it will do the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaybee23 Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 I need that playing on a video screen when I do my coloring lol! I just keep plugging away at it and hope it will turn out some day, but agree it would be fun to get the swirling technique down. Guess that means I would have to make soap more often Yep, that's what it means Julie.....we wanna see more soaping pics. Don't worry, I can't swirl well to save my life, yours look better than mine do, LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crafty1_AJ Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 I personally find ITP (in the pot) swirls to be fun and rewarding. You get swirls like this:They are different in appearance from ITM swirls, but have a nice look IMO. To do this, just dump your swirled portion from up high into the main batter in about 3-4 spots in the pot. Then pour the soap batter into the mold and swirl with your pouring hand a bit while you're pouring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz D. Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Brenda, I love how soft your swirling is.. mine is so much more dramatic, I am going to try to cut down on my dye next time I think. Liz D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz D. Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 AJ, I just noticed your soaps (dah!) and gosh, they are also just absolutely gorgeous! You girls are master swirlers. I am going to try the pot method you described next time... it's lovely. I always do my swirling in the mold -- works great but I love to try new methods. I first pour about 1/4 of the paler color in the mold, then 1/4 of darker color, and so on, then take a cake frosting knife and swirl gently.Liz D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 AJ - Your soaps are absolutely gorgeous. I LOVE your bars you have posted here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoapInTheCity Posted April 17, 2006 Author Share Posted April 17, 2006 AJ - Your soap swirls are GREAT!!!!!!!!!Love the colors too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crafty1_AJ Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 Thanks for the compliments, guys. You've got me turning red here. LOL I didn't mean to hijack your in-the-mold swirls thread -- just saying that if you have difficulty with them, here's an alternative that works well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tootie04 Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 AJ everything you do looks sooo good!! I am going BACK to in the pot swirls cause I just cant get the in the mold ones to look right!! Patricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindsaycb Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 I know if I did as the tutorial said...my soap would thicken too fast. AJ your swirls are awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moefun Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 I personally find ITP (in the pot) swirls to be fun and rewarding. You get swirls like this:They are different in appearance from ITM swirls, but have a nice look IMO. To do this, just dump your swirled portion from up high into the main batter in about 3-4 spots in the pot. Then pour the soap batter into the mold and swirl with your pouring hand a bit while you're pouring.i just made a thread about swirl (before i searched) and i will try the in the pot with less color like you said. your swirls are to die for i hhope i can get mine close to that thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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