Thanks everyone! Collectively, you have helped me work through what I believe will work best for me. Given my son's skin sensitivities (and the thought of bugs), I 'm going to pre-wash my fabrics. While I am at it, I figure there is no harm in throwing in a color catcher. Currently, I don't anticipate stockpiling a lot of fabric because I don't have any place to store it. Truth be told, I'm still searching for a place to store my machine and sewing supplies, lol. Thus, I will be buying only what I need for whatever project I am actively working on.
For my first project, I am going to test out using Magic Sizing (is that the same as starch?). I was able to find it Walmart for about a $1. As a beginner, I'm thinking it will be easier to work with the fabric if it is stiffer. In the near future, perhaps for my second project even, I will see how it goes without the starch.
Thanks again for all of your wonderful answers!