I pre-wash both fabrics and batting - 80/20 W and N. Sometimes the fabrics are prewashed several times until the color catchers no longer catch colors! I don't wash the finished quilt before giving it away, because I love the crisp look. I always give giftees washing instructions and emphasize that it has been machine pieced and quilted, so it is very safe to be machine washed and dried. I tell my giftees that I wash and dry my own quilts that way.