I am a convert to the washing and starch brigade. When i started with my very first quilt I was soo keen to get cracking I did not prep at all. After a few projects and reading a lot about fabric prep on this board I thought I would give it a go and see if it made any difference. I now prewash, though I am not sure if the prep seems to have a calming effect as the time it takes to wash,dry and iron gives me time to pause and think out the project in hand, thus prep both in mind and fabric!