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It's an interesting idea. Thick-it's ingredients are a mixture of modified food starch and maltodextrin. The food starch is modified in essentially the same was as starch is modified when you make gravy or pudding from flour: the starch grains are pre-cooked so they are ready to mix with liquids and thicken them instantly.

The trouble with food starch is that it reacts with fiber reactive dyes in exactly the same way that cellulose does. This means that a significant amount of the dye will be wasted, so you'll have to use more dye.

Starch is often used as a coating on fabric, for the purpose of sizing, which protects the yarns during the weaving process. It's a problem. Starch is difficult to remove, even if you boil the fabric. The starch tends to come out gradually, over the course of many washings. Since the starch reacts with dye when the fabric does, it appears as though the dye is not wash-fast and is itself coming off gradually.

The advantage of alginate is that it does not react with the fiber reactive dye. It's also easy to wash out, unless you make the mistake of letting it combine with calcium ions, which form an un meltable gel with alginate. Calcium ions are present in hard water, so this means it's important to use softened water when working with alginate.

-Paula

Is hard water softened using hexametaphosphate OK for alginate? or should I use distilled water?

Sodium hexametaphosphate is ideal for softening water for use with alginate.

When you don't have hexametaphosphate, it's best to use distilled water to work with alginate. Hexametaphosphate is easier—no need to lug a bunch of jugs of water home from the store—but both work equally well. Either use hexametaphosphate, or use distilled water. It's no fun when hard water makes your alginate gel.

Also look at this FAQ page: Sodium alginate, Superclear, and other dye thickeners.

-Paula

Is it necessary to thicken the dye? I seem to get intense colors when using Colorado dyes, but of course they do run. So if you thicken the dye - then you can get more concentrated designs - is that why? Just wondering. Thanks. Karen

Some people like to have more control on how much the different colors of dye run together. Personally I usually like to have less direct control, so I usually go for the unthickened watercolor style. Thickened dyes are better if you want to be able to put contrasting colors together without having them mix together into a mud color. It's a good idea to try it different ways to see what you like to do.

Thickening can also be good for dye painting, if you want an effect in which the dye doesn't run as far.

-Paula

Hi Paula,

I can always count on your to respond in simple terms and answer my questions completely. You can read my mind too! Thank you! It gives me some ideas.

Boiling water, huh? Well, I'm willing to give it a shot. I've already tried the oil trick and the alcohol trick, and once my Superclear is gone I'll happily boil water!! Thank you.

my blog: A Good Day to Dye

I was in panic mode when I found out that DT couldn't get Superclear any more! But I had some sodium alginate powder and decided to try it again... what choice did I have? I sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of SA into 2 cups of hot water... hot from the tap seems to work okay for me. I use a whisk to dissolve it, then let it sit for an hour or less. If it's too thick, add a little water to thin it. It makes a nice, thick paste that I can add to mixed dyes to thicken slightly, or mix with dye powder for dye painting. Then I store the remainder in a cool place. Problem solved!
Judy

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