Here's a tip for those who do wash their fabric: Fan fold or wrap fold the fabric in 36" lengths or whatever you find easy and use safety pins in each corner and maybe more along the edges before you toss them in the washer or sink and long yardages won't tangle or be diffcult to smooth out or iron. Has saved me much frustration since I 've tried this. I tend to buy many yards when fabric is on sale for backing. I don't normally wash fabric before cuttong and piecing. Maybe, because I think it is an extra step. Now, I do... usuually wash a quilt before gifting it so I will not be embarrassed should something happen untoward. Especially the quilts for nursing home residents as these will posibly get harsher treatments than in my home.