they probably have had lots of people complaining- trying to return fat quarters that the customer took home & pre-washed then they either faded a lot, shrank horribly or raveled- so to keep people from being able to return them they put that on the labels- now when you pre-wash it & it shrinks, fades & ravels they can say---'oh well- the label says not to pre-wash it' and they do not have to give you a refund. another reason I stopped buying fabrics from them- at the very least do a *bleed test*, wet it, rub it with a paper towel or piece of white muslin & see if color comes off- if it does- wash it- or just take your chances & pre wash anyway- just know you have to live with the outcome.
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