This is a vintage craft from the 60's made from nylon net and a bar of soap. The kids could help with this one. I think the shape of the Dove soap has changed so you may have to modify the pattern or the bar of soap to complete this project. I have used a bar of Dove from about 20 years ago. I had made it into a swan at that time, and just dismantled it and rebuilt it with fresh materials. I believe you could use any bath bar and, perhaps, carve the edges at the point that makes the tail.
By Harlean from Hot Springs, Arkansas
The instructions are also in a PDF file for which you may need Acrobat Reader to view. Download Acrobat Reader
Click Here to download the Soap Swan Instructions in PDF format.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Who remembers how to put together a swan with vintage rubber swan necks and bar soap and I think yarn. This may have been a craft in the late 70s or early 80s.
I've found a woman (I assume it's a woman) on etsy who is selling a very nice pattern for $3 here: www.etsy.com/
but here's a free one :) www.thriftyfun.com/
www.thriftyfun.com/
Thrifty Fun has a swan. It doesn't use the rubber neck, though. Here is the link: www.thriftyfun.com/
I do not know if you are looking for a crochet pattern to do yourself or if you are just interested in the item but here is one for sale (apparently any color): Take a look as it is beautiful and inexpensive:
www.etsy.com/
I need directions for making a soap swan. I use to make these but its been a long time ago. I know you use a dove shape soap, netting with some bangles attached, but I can't remember how to make the swan's head or the final directions to put it together. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
I hadn't thought about the Soap Swan for years. But I made them with my kids in the 60's... You are right, you start with a Dove Beauty Bar which was a curved oval shape, and a square of nylon net pulled up to gather at the back for the tail. Glue on sequins for flash, and at the opposite end, you stick in a chenille stem about 4 inches long and curve it for the swan's neck, and stick a small stryofoam ball on the other end.
Oh, and I forgot one other thing. If the swan doesn't want to sit up straight, put about 3 beads on the bottom. Just push a straight pin through them and space them as necessary.
Harlean from Arkansas
Thankyou Harlean, I am going to make a couple of these for a centerpiece. I can picture them now and know how the head was made, I honestly couldn't remember.One of those "senior moments" Thankyou again
I found these instructions for you.
My Grand mother used to make these when I was a child.
She also made them into fish and other things simpler.
Swan Soap Sachets
Make a soap sachet in the shape of a swan. Take a bar of Dove and wrap it in pale pink tulle or other pretty material. Use a pink pipe cleaner to secure the end and fan out the edge to make the swan's tail. Twist two more pink pipe cleaners together and bend them into the shape of a swan's neck. Glue that to the body of the swan. This is a great little bathroom decoration.
Harlean from Arkansas, did you ever make up the soap swan? I would L-O-V-E to see it, as I used to make these, too, when I was a little "pioneer" girl and would like to make them again with my granddaughter someday. THANKS!
You don't know how long I have wanted to find someone else who could remember these! I collect ideas for nursing home activity directors. Thank you so much for the discussion. If someone has a picture of one please post it!
My Grandmother used large push pins with the big beaded head on the end for the feet at the bottom. This made the swan sit correctly. She also used the push pins in different colors to decorate the rest of the swan, along with sequins, beads and glitter.
