I subscribe to the never wash credo. I have a huge stash and the only pieces that have been washed are the ones I've reclaimed from shirts and such. I considered it once or twice but I like my life. Besides, when I make a quilt then wash it, something happens with shrinkage and softening that makes my quilts look old and wrinkly and more like the quilts that I snuggled under as a child. And I love that look. If the dye runs, it runs. (The earth will not stop spinning.) Plus, there's something called Retayne that is supposed to help with that. I haven't bought it yet, but I probably will eventually.