About 45 years ago, when I was taking Home Economics, 1st year, my teacher said that the first thing to do after picking a pattern and the material was to read the end of the cardboard it was wrapped around. After the material was purchased, the first thing to do was to wash it in the same kind of water the item would be washed in once it was made. I have followed these instructions to this day. With fabrics coming from so many different places these days, washing first is definitely my first step.
sueinbarre