Originally Posted by mucky
I think that when you wash quilts before giving that unless you tell them it makes people think you are giving them something used. I washed a quilt for a craft sale and people said they wouldn't buy it as looked used and It wasn't.
Even if you use polyester batting, a quilt can be ironed LIGHTLY after washing. Set the iron to the coolest temperature required by the quilt sandwich and use a light hand to smooth, rather than squish the wrinkles out.
If there are any big wrinkles that don't want to come out with a warm iron and light pressure, I use a rolled up rag like a sponge. Dip it in water and then lightly brush along the wrinkle. Let it set in for a few minutes, then come back and use the warm iron again. I suppose you could use a mister bottle; I was taught to use the rolled up rag before mister bottles were common and just never got around to updating my technique (it gives me total control over where the water goes).
When I want my Mennonite quilt (over 40 years old now) to look new, I wash it, air dry, then fluff in the dryer and finally go over it with a warm iron. It comes out looking brand new again.