Learn What Felted Soap Is & How Simple it is to Make

This post may contain affiliate links.

How to Felt Soap

I’ve received felted soap as a gift, and even purchased some for myself. They look really complicated, but I’ve found they are actually a simple DIY project!

What is Felted Soap?

Felted soap is simply a bar of soap wrapped in wool. This thin wool coat helps soap last longer, and makes slippery bars easier to hang on to. The wool is very gently exfoliating, and can replace a washcloth or bath pouf in the shower.

Wool is also naturally antimicrobial, so there is no problem with keeping the bar in a wet shower environment.

The simplicity of this project makes it perfect for doing with kids, and it makes a unique gift!

How to Felt Soap

Supplies

The good news is, learning how to felt soap requires just three basic items:

How to Felt Soap: The Process

1. Position your roving wool so it’s at the end of the bar, and wrap tightly. You want to completely and evenly cover the bar of soap, so there is no soap showing through. Wrap lengthwise and widthwise, paying attention to covering corners as well. Roving should be at least ¼-inch thick to cover properly.

2. Cut your nylon stocking so it’s about 6-7 inches long. Place the bar of soap carefully into the toe of the nylon, making sure you don’t disturb the wool. Tie a knot at the open end, getting the knot very close to the bar of soap.

3. Fill a sink or a large bowl with hot water. Gently submerge the nylon-covered bar into the water, allowing water to soak into the bar. Very gently press and squeeze the bar under the water. The hot water will cause the wool to shrink and tighten around the bar. When you can tell the wool is tightening, begin washing your hands with the nylon-covered bar for about 10-15 minutes, being sure to rub all the sides and corners.

4. After the 10-15 minutes, take the bar out of the nylon and rinse it off in cold water. Check for proper felting by scratching a fingernail across a seam in the roving. If seams separate, wrap in the nylon and continue washing the bar in the hot water for a few more minutes.

5. Lay finished bar on a cloth to dry out. It will probably shrink a bit more as it dries, and it may take up to a few days to completely dry.

To Use

As you use this bar, the soap will lather nicely and act almost like a soft luffa. It will gradually shrink as the soap is used up. What you’ll have left will be a small ball of wool. String a few together to make a necklace or throw them on the floor for a cat toy. (My cat loves his!)

Artistic Variations

Now that you know how to felt soap, here are some things you can do to dress it up:

  • Alternate colors of wool to make stripes.
  • Position wool to make zig zags or other decorative designs.
  • Purchase or make shapes like trees or the sun. Work this into your design.
  • Add pure essential oils to the wool to make your bath or shower smell great.
  • Add a strip of lace around the middle and work the wool over the edges to hold it in place.

Packaging Your Felted Soap

There are several things you can do to package these to give as gifts. Just be sure your soap is thoroughly dry or you could end up with a soggy mess.

  • Tie up in a clear plastic bag with a bit of curling ribbon and a tag.
  • Place in a square of linen, then tie a bow around it.
  • Stamp onto butcher paper and use this to wrap your soap.
  • Cut out a piece of fabric that’s wide enough to go around and about twice as long. Place the soap in the middle and tie each end like a piece of candy. Tie jute around the ends in bows.
  • Package in organza bags.
  • Place a few in a galvanized bucket with a bow on the handle.

Do you know how to felt soap? Tell us about your experiences!

*******

Avatar photo

About Debra Maslowski

Debra is a master gardener, a certified herbalist, a natural living instructor, and more. She taught Matt and Betsy how to make soap so they decided to bring her on as a staff writer! Debra recently started an organic herb farm in the mountains of Western North Carolina. You can even purchase her handmade products on Amazon!

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for us to support our website activities, we may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for our endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this website.

DISCLAIMER: Information on DIY Naturalâ„¢ is not reviewed or endorsed by the FDA and is NOT intended to be substituted for the advice of your health care professional. If you rely solely upon this advice you do so at your own risk. Read full Disclaimer & Disclosure statements here.

Comments

  1. Avatar photoLyn says

    I have made the hand sanitizer and I love it…

    Also made one bar (so far) of Felted Soap…it was fun and plan to do some more as Christmas gifts…Thank you Deb, this site is a great help to us “DIYers”

    Lyn

  2. Avatar photoAndrew Rody says

    This is a really unique soap Idea. I was looking for homemade soap and bath products for my kids to make my wife for Christmas this year when I came across this site. I love the recipes you have on here for soap and I think this will be easy for me to make with the kids. Thank you for sharing.

    • Avatar photoLyn says

      Be careful Andrew…I was just going to make some soap for friends for Christmas and I am hooked. I have been making soap for about a year and a half and now that I have so much I won’t be able to use it up in my lifetime…guess what people are getting this year for Christmas…hahaha…it will be different, it’s felted this year.

      Lyn

    • Avatar photoDebra Maslowski says

      You can Tisa, but I would make the soaps larger than you’d originally planned. Since the bars need to be wet for some time, glycerin soap is typically softer and disintegrates faster, making it smaller by the time you are finished.

  3. Avatar photoLyn Oldaker says

    OK, this sounds like a great gift idea and I do make my own soap but do you sew the felt together after you get it on the soap or do you make little bags and stitch it together at the top…(or side as it were)?

    Thanks for the idea, something more to have fun with.

    Lyn

    • Avatar photoDebra Maslowski says

      Hi Lyn! Nope, you don’t need to sew it together. The cool thing about wool is that as is shrinks, it gets kind of wavy and bonds to itself, making a solid fabric. You can make a pouch if you wish, but there is no need to.

      • Avatar photoLyn says

        Thanks Debra…I am having more fun with your recipes on the site…my next project is your recipe for hand sanitizer…I don’t like the “stuff” you can buy and this will give me a chance to make something different.

        Lyn