Soap Making Classes

Local Classes for Soap Making

In many communities, soap making classes are available through craft stores that hope to increase sales of their soap making materials. Check your phone book for details. Bella Online also has a listing of various businesses across the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia that provide soap making classes.

Sometimes, the continuing education division at your local community college or the nearest city recreation center may also host soap making workshops. However, since these organizations are not trying to sell you supplies for your soap making projects, you can typically expect to pay a registration fee to participate in the class.

Soap Making Classes Online

If you can't find a class in making soap nearby, online learning may be a good alternative to consider. Web-based classes are also a good idea if you have work or personal commitments that would make it hard for you to take a traditional soap making class.

The Internet is full of many Web sites offering free soap making classes online. For example:

• Soap Making 101 from Suite University discusses the steps involved in cold process soap making.
• Lisa Barger offers a short online soap making class that explains how you can get started with this fun hobby.
• Teach Soap offers several different soap making tutorials and recipes.
• Expert Village has video demonstrations of a number of soap making projects.

While free courses can provide a basic overview of soap making, a paid course is often a better option for someone with a serious interest in the hobby. If you have some extra cash to spare, Universal Class offers the following soap making classes:

• Soap Making 101 gives you the foundation of knowledge necessary to become a proficient soap maker.
• Making Designer Soaps and Candles for Business or Pleasure is a self-paced, online instructional system that allows participants up to six months to complete the course.

Soap Making DVDs

If you have access to a TV in your craft area, soap making DVDs can help bring the excitement of a soap making class to your home. While DVD tutorials covering the essentials of making handmade soap are somewhat difficult to find, here are some titles you may wish to consider:

• Soap Making With Jeny - Making Soap For Fun & Profit
• Soapmaking Series: Learn To Make Cold Process Soap
• Country Bubbles Introduction to Basic Soap Making
• Herbal Soap Making Kit and Instructional DVD

Although a good soap making DVD can be a wise investment for the serious crafter, you may wish to ask your local library to order one of the titles for you if you're on a tight budget. By using your state's inter-library loan system, you should be able to access almost any reference material imaginable.

Soap Making Reference Books

If you're looking for books to guide you through the process of learning how to make handmade soap, LoveToKnow Crafts recommends the following titles:

• Soapmaker's Companion: A Comprehensive Guide with Recipes, Techniques & Know-How by Susan Miller Cavitch
• The Natural Soap Book: Making Herbal and Vegetable-Based Soaps by Susan Miller Cavitch
• Smart Soapmaking: The Simple Guide to Making Traditional Handmade Soap Quickly, Safely, and Reliably, or How to Make Luxurious Handcrafted Soaps for Family, Friends, and Yourself by Anne L. Watson
• The Soapmaker: Natural Handmade Soap from Your Kitchen by Sandy Maine
• Melt & Mold Soap Crafting by C. Kalia Westerman