when i bought a large piece of linen i fell in love with i ignored the instructions and threw it in the washer and the dryer, then found it came out just fine but needed serious ironing. once that was done (with lots of steam) the linen was great to work with and it wears like steel. a very strong fabric. i also ignore dry-cleaning instruction...if i want to quilt with it i throw it in the washer and the dryer, if it doesnt' come out ok i wont use it...but that has not happened...i have thrown wools in the wash(i ALWAYS wash my wools and silks) just like i would cottons, makes no difference. if you are afraid to wash a fabric you are planning to use i would think you would be stuck with wallhangings. i don't make wallhangings, so i wash it all just like any piece of bedding would be laundered.