Soap Making Instructions
'Checkerboard Soap'

These soap making instructions for creating a checkerboard patterned soap are easy. By simply embedding sticks of soap into an alternate colored base you can make various different patterns in your decorative soaps.

Start by cutting up some uncured soap (the fresher the better) into strips that are long enough to reach the ends of your soap mold. Use a long sharp knife or pastry knife to cut the strips. They don't need to be perfect.

After the cutting is complete, set the soaps up into your soap mold. How you do this will depend on the size and shape of your mold.

I usually lay 5 down with space between them and on the next layer I only put 2 across the 5 below to add space for the liquid soap to flow. On top of the 2, I put 4 strips and then 2 again.

Repeat this pattern if necessary until the soap strips are gone as shown in the picture below.

Once you're finished making the grid pattern, put the filled soap mold in the oven with your other additives to warm the soap strips a little.

Make the soap base as usual and bring to a thin trace. Incorporate the additives and blend well.

Before you pour the soap base, remember that the mold will fill much higher than normal. You may want to have another mold on hand to put any extra base in if your mold fills too high.

Be sure to pour the lightly traced soap very carefully so as to not mess up the design.

Once the soap has been poured, give the mold a couple of gentle thumps on the table to get out any air bubbles.

Insulate as normal and remember to cut your soaps so that you get the best possible design from them.