On my! That you so much for this thread...... I haven't always washed my quilts before giving them away but I will change now that I've seen the horror stories. I did just finish a quilt for my daughter and washed it before shipping it to her. It was a cathedral window and with all the hand stitches, I wanted to be sure nothing came unsewn. It held up well..... so I shipped it. Then, when she got it she said, "I'm afraid to use it.... all the thousands of stitches.... I don't want to ruin it". So I was able to tell her.... I've washed it... it held up..... it should be fine and if something comes apart... I'll fix it.