Yes, I also would like to know why you feel you have to wash it before gifting it. I would make a faux flange binding, sew it to the back by machine and then sew it to the front by machine as well. Matching the thread to the faux flange will make the stitches disappear and it is much much faster than hand sewn binding. Here is a link to a tute from MSQC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAQWwwAa2K0