The process for preparing an alkyl hydroxyalkyl cellulose ether comprises the steps of: a) alkalizing cellulose to obtain alkali cellulose, b) reacting alkali cellulose with an alkyl halogenide until an alkyl cellulose ether with a D.S.(alkyl) value of from 0.7 to 2.5. is attained, c) removing excess alkyl halogenide from the reaction mixture, and d) reacting the alkyl cellulose ether with an alkylene oxide in a liquid suspending agent to produce an alkyl hydroxyalkyl cellulose ether. An alkyl hydroxyalkyl cellulose ether is produced which has an D.S.(alkyl) of from 0.7 to 2.5 and an MS (hydroxyalkyl) from 0.03 to 2.0, wherein not more that 15 percent of the hydroxyalkyl groups are capped with an alkyl group.