Dharma's Superclear and sodium alginate

[tiedyejudy]

I just posted the item below on Paula Burch's forum, but also wanted to share it here for those who like to thicken their dyes:

I haven't seen anything posted about this, so I thought I would share. I have been using Dharma Trading's Superclear for years to thicken dyes both for tie-dye and dye painting. I went to their website to order some today, and they are totally out with no ETA of new supplies, due to an ingredient no longer being available! And, much as I don't like using sodium alginate, I checked their product page and discovered this:
"we have just gotten over a world wide shortage of Alginate Kelp. But the brand we used to carry is no longer available anywhere. The product we now have to carry is different from the old kind, particularly the HV, slightly finer, lighter in color, and you may have to use a little more, depending on your use. We will be doing some experiments, and will post on this page if we find any radical difference. But this is it, the only one that anyone can get any more."
They do still have stock available, thank goodness! This is the year I told myself I would really get into fabric stamping and printing with thickened dyes, wouldn't you know! Hopefully, they will come up with a replacement ingredient for the one they can't get for Superclear... otherwise, I will be forced to learn the proper method of mixing sodium alginate! Arrrrgggghhhh!!

[2D4]

Thanks for letting us know Judy!

Jo

[Releaf]

I've tried this product.  I followed the directions and it worked fine.  It was my first time using thickened dye, so I don't have anything else to compare it with, but it gave me no problems.

[liquidrainbowcreations]

I use superclear and love it put i only use it for my black dye when i stain glass look something. soduim alginate is best to leave set up over night
lrc

[ezri]

I hadn't tried it and kept carting it, the message was up for some months about there being no supplier, then I went to grab some and it was all sold out

I have used sodium alginate, I mix as well as possible then let sit for a while/overnight to gel up. I haven't been terribly scientific about it though Just put a teaspoon in and add water, then add more water if it gets too thick. I keep mine in the fridge but it does dry out after a while

[brixter]

I use alginate often. Easiest way I found is to heat up a couple cups of water..not boiling but quite hot...sprinkle a tsp of alginate on top and mix it with a hand blender. It gels up quickly this way. You'll need to add more water to get it to whatever consistancy you're wanting.

[tiedyejudy]

I finally found a recipe (ratio of sodium alginate to water) that I like, and it does call for hot water.  I have used it to hand paint with, and it's lovely.  Only problem was... I was painting on fabric I had pre-soaked with soda ash solution awhile back, and I did not cover and batch after I was all done... dye didn't bond to the fiber, and I have a very faded result.  But that's not the fault of the sodium alginate... just me, forgetting the basics!  Live & learn...

[Jaja]

Judy, I've tried also to "soak" the fabrics with soda+alginate (actually applying alginate with brush and scraping off exccess of alginate from the surface with spatula). Then I was painting on it with concentrated dyes.
I did this because painting with unthickened dyes is more natural, how brush behaves etc.