Before joining this board, I had never washed my quilts before giving them (except, of course, rag quilts). I guess I just felt that they wouldn't seem "New." I would iron them, give them a spritz of febreeze, and off they would go. Now I will never not wash them before gifting. When my mom-in-law died a couple of years ago, I took back a quilt I'd made for my FIL ten years prior. It had Never been washed! 'twas the first thing I did, and oh how much prettier my quilting looked. lol...