I am a member of the don't wash, don't starch, don't straighten the fabric minority. Yes, sometimes I get a bleeder and my project turns out a different color. But, I just get over it. We are cutting these fabric pieces into much smaller pieces and then layering them, adding batting and a lot of stitching, otherwise known as quilting. The fabrics are not going to pull like making a piece of wearing apparel will when not cut on the straight of the grain. The exception is any long borders I cut. And because I know what I will be using that fabric for a border, I cut those, length of fabric before I start cutting any other pieces. I want those with the straight of the grain and not stretchy. Otherwise, they will walk on you and turn and can just be obnoxious. So, I guess I didn't answer your question at all, did I? The other responses make a lot of sense and are good advice.