Large Felted Soap

Large Felted Soaps (no two alike) I begin with soap pieces that I buy from The Vermont Soap Co. in Middlebury, Vermont. I form these into the shape I want, then dry them in my furnace room. Then I wrap them with many layers of wool from local sheep that I have washed and carded into roving. The last layer is a combination of many wools that I have washed and dyed and carded together, to create a multi-colored blend. The final stage is felting and I accomplish that by using warm water, soap and agitation of the fibers until they lock on to eachother and become felted, and that makes the jacket around the soap. Use it as a washcloth, a bar of soap, and when the soap is all used up, throw the felted jacket in the washer a few times and it will make a very nice cat toy! My customers have come back year after year and now tell me that the soap will last 2 to 3 years! A lot depends upon how it is used and whether or not you allow it to dry between uses. That will extend its life.