Not overly critical, but if you let the tie-dyed fabric sit for too long or too short, it can cause all your efforts to be wasted. Whether you are doing it for the love of tie-dye or commercial purposes, no one wants their project to be ruined, and this brings us to determine how long you should let tie-dye sit.

It might seem trivial to you, but for tie-dye artisans, it’s a matter of great concern. Typically, we leave the tie-dyed fabric for 30 minutes to a few hours, but knowing the right time is essential if you want perfect long-lasting results.

Tie-dye does not sit in the fabric at once, and each fabric type requires a different amount of time. If you do not let the dye set properly, the tie-dye will start to fade right after the first wash. Yet, at the same time, you need to be careful that you are not letting the tie-dye sit for too much time. Wants to know the reason; learn what happens if you leave tie-dye too long.

So, before your exciting project of transforming your favorite garment turns into a mishap, let us all find out the right time to let the tie-dye sit.

How long should tie-dye be left to sit?

Some of you may think that it is 2 hours, and some of you might say 8 hours. There might be another group of people saying it to let tie-dye sit for 24 hours. But what exactly should the time duration be? Well, it is governed by a few factors such as location, temperature, and fabric type.

Who decides how long the tie-dye should rest? It is going to be you, and you can do this by analyzing the factors below. Just read it out, and you will have an idea of it.

Location

Not the location where your home is located but the place where you have carried out the tie-dye process. Why does it matter after all?

Let’s understand it with an example. Sopiah is tie-dying her favorite pants inside her home, and William is experimenting with his hoodie outside the house. They have the same fabric type, using the same quality dye, but it takes different times for both of their garments to show colors. It is because they are performing the process at different locations.

It is preferred that you choose the location where you are not disturbed during the whole time. Also, keep in mind that the tie-dye process can cause a mess around, and therefore, do not carry out the process where you don’t want untidiness. Let’s now see what the subsequent point is.

Temperature

Typically, heat speeds up the process, and if by any means you manage to supply heat, it will take much less time for tie-dye to set. Not to mention, the dye will set in cold weather as well, but it will take more time.

Considering this, if the weather is cold, let your tie-dye sit inside the home and let it be there for at least 24 hours. In case the weather is warm, and you are keeping the package outside, 8 hours might be more than sufficient.

Moreover, covering also plays a part. If you are covering the project with some plastic, it will keep the garment wet and will allow the dye to set perfectly. Additionally, the cover will also protect the piece of garment from debris.

Dye quality

The color and the dye quality are the next elements that you need to see. There are a few colors that take more extensive time than others to set in the fabric. Similarly, the dye quality also affects the time duration you need for tie-dye to set.

For better results, it is suggested that you read the instruction manual provided by the particular dye you have bought for the project.

Fabric type

Not to forget, this is another important factor to analyze when you are deciding the right time duration for the tie-dye to sit. You may have heard that natural fiber such as cotton works best for tie-dye projects, and it is absolutely right. Similarly, if you go for blended fabric type or the kind of fabric not suited for tie-dye, you may have to let tie-dye sit for more than 24 hours, and still, it’s not guaranteed that results are going to be as per your expectations.

If you want a perfect tie-dye, we suggest you choose 100% cotton-made fabric and let it sit for around 2 to 8 hours based on other factors as well.

How long should tie-dye sit?

Back to the main question we had. Considering the factors discussed above, we can say that 8 hours is the average time required for the tie-dye to set. However, there are circumstances in which you possibly will need to let the tie-dye sit for 24 hours or even more than that. We say the best of luck with your upcoming project.

Conclusion

You don’t have to exaggerate yourself when doing the tie-dye project; rather, it should be fun and allow you to be creative. Now, as you know how long you should let the tie-dye sit, you are ready to start your next project. Give it a shot and see in your wardrobe what needs to be transformed using tie-dye.