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How to Whittle With Soap

Whittling may conjure an image of a man relaxing on a porch with a knife in one hand and a piece of wood in the other, carving out intricate designs from a block of wood. Learning to whittle on wood is an art that takes patience and skill. Soap is much more forgiving and a good way to learn the basic skills of whittling. Although everyone may not possess the skills needed to whittle a wooden masterpiece, carving with soap is an enjoyable pastime.

Things You'll Need

Bar of soap
Paring knife
Clear paper
Pencil
Orange stick
Newspaper
Paper towel

Instructions

- 1
  Select a pure bar soap without added fragrances or moisturizing oils. Remove the soap wrapper and hold the soap in your hand with the lettering facing up. Most soap bars will have the name of the soap pressed into the bar. Scrape off the lettering using a paring knife.
- 2
  Draw a design on clear paper and lay the paper over the soap. Use pressure to trace over the outline and the details to ensure the image will show up on the bar of soap. A daisy design is simple for a starter project.
- 3
  Trace the outline and details onto the soap using a manicure orange stick or wooden chopstick. Reverse the design on the opposite side of the soap bar.
- 4
  Hold the soap firmly but do not squeeze too tightly. Heat from your hand will cause the soap to become sticky and more difficult to carve.
- 5
  Remove unwanted soap in small shaving strokes using a paring knife. Use slow and deliberate strokes to carve the soap. Rotate the soap as you whittle, alternating from back to front on the soap bar as you remove the unwanted soap shavings. Carve the soap to within 1/4 inch of your design.
- 6
  Continue to whittle and remove the soap along the edge of the trace line. Add details to the soap with the knife or orange stick.
- 7
  Smooth away unwanted cut marks with a paper towel.

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