Originally Posted by justwannaquilt
I never prewash.. Wasting expensive fabric!
If you don't pre-wash, and then piece...if it does shrink, all your seams will be stretched and at different places. What a nightmare. IMHO you shouldn't "HOLD" that fabric in an unnatural state while you cut and piece it and then wash. Eventually, it will do what it is going to do: either shrink, or bleed. Why waste piecing time if it is going to do that? ALSO, the sizing coated on fabric (pre-wash) is really bad for your rotary cutter and dulls the blade, as does using a dryer sheet.
Wash - dry without fabric softener - iron (and starch if needed)-cut and sew.