I'm a prewasher if it is possible to take care of the shrinkage. Remember, if you don't prewash to use those fantastic "Color Catchers" made by Shout...They are fantastic!!!!! I love them. Even though I prewash (when possible), if I make a gift of a quilt...I include color catchers with it...just to make sure when they wash the quilt that there are no "mishaps" sometimes..all the dye might not come out in the first or even second wash.