[QUOTE=bearisgray;7362070]If you cut anything off for a test piece - I would go with something like a 2 x 12 inch strip from one end - Have the 12 inch part cut on the crosswise grain -
I have cut squares off pieces and regretted doing so. I also cut a long piece off parallel with the selvage. I also regretted doing that. If you cut a piece off crosswise, you will only mess up the over-all length by not-so-much.
Good advice about where to make the cut, I will try to remember that.
As for shrinkage and colorfast testing, I have put a scrap in boiling water in a glass bowl, then microwaved it to get super hot.