Felted Soap

Felted Soap
worsted weight wool yarn suitable for felting, quantities will vary depending on your soap size
bar of soap
size 11 needles

gauge: 3.5 stitches and 5 rows per inch.

You’ll begin by measuring the complete width of your soap by wrapping the tape measure around the circumference. Referring to the cast-on information, use the closest number to your width by rounding up. Next, measure the height of your soap, only measuring the longest side. Keep these measurements handy.

Cast-on on the number of stitches that corresponds with your width measurement:
2.5"- 11 3"- 14 3.5"- 16 4"- 18 4.5"- 19 5"- 21

If your soap does not fit closely to the above sizes you can determine your cast-on by adding 1 to width measurement and then multiplying that number by 3.5. (width+1) x 3.5= cast-on.

Work in stockinette stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row) until 1 inch longer than length of soap, ending with a purl row.

Next row: *k4, k2tog* repeat across. Note: you will most likely end in the middle of the repeat section, this is normal.

Final row: Bind off purlwise.

Finishing
Fold in half. Seam up cast on row and up side leaving bind off edge open. You will now partially felt your sack in your washing machine. Set your washing machine to small load, hot water on a normal cycle. Place in pillow case and small amount of Eucalan woolwash in machine. Start machine. Check every 5 minutes to make sure that your machine does not go into spin cycle, you may need to reset your machine, and also to check sizing. When felt bag is close to soap size you will remove the soap sack. Place soap into sack. Using a new piece of yarn, whip stitch the bag closed. Redampen entire sack. Rub sack vigorously with hands to felt sack to fit around soap. Pay extra attention to whip stitch edge to felt it and blend it with the rest of sack. Once felted to the soap, lightly rinse excess soap out of felt. Allow soap to dry fully. Tip: Wire cookie racks are an excellent place to dry soap as it allows air to circulate around soap.
Enjoy!