this "argument" starts here at least once a month. here's what i find more ironic than anything:
the ONLY fabrics i've ever had bleed on me have been from quilt shops. you know ... the name brand, grossly overpriced stuff that costs $9 per yard and up unless it's on the end-of-bolt sale table. the only complaints i've read about bleeding and shrinking have been about so-called "quality" fabrics. nothing from the "cheap" end of my stash has ever bled, and only two have shrunk during a span of several years.
because i am lucky enough to not suffer from alergies, i never had to prewash when i got all my fabs from the w-place. it REALLY irritates me to know that the more i spend for a fabric, the more of a gamble i'm taking if i don't prewash. [we need an emoticon with steaming ears. :x ]
(not ranting against the LQS. they don't make the stuff.)