It can be done. I had a completed top that a cat puked on before it was sandwiched and quilted. I went ahead and washed it at that stage and nothing bad happened. Unfortunately the puke stain did not come out :thumbdown:
I had no problems with it unravelling or anything. I tumble dried it until it was just slightly damp and then ironed it. Sat as a UFO for years. It is currently on my new longarm. First quilt on the longarm. Good candidate because at this stage of the game I don't care if I ruin it. Maybe once it is all quilted I will try and get that stain out again but if it doesn't come out it will be a good utility quilt. Stains don't keep it from being warm. ;-)