I haven't finished a quilt yet but I will probably wash before gifting. It takes me so long to finish a quilt, I think it needs to be washed before someone else gets it. I use "free" detergents for myself and no fabric softener. I have been environmentally ill in the past and I wouldn't give something to someone knowing it had fragrances or other chemicals in it that could possibly make them sick. Actually, those things might make me sick before I could give the quilt away.