I'm a wash-ahead-girl. Always have. Years ago I bought really cute fabric for shorts (for me). I washed the fabric and when I tried to cut it out, I found the fabric had shrunk so much I couldn't make the shorts. I took the fabric and my receipt and told them I wanted enough fabric to make the 6 pairs of shorts I was planning to make. They made it right. I never trust fabric, especially today since it's made everywhere.