mayday

NEVER, am careful to keep them clean whilst working on them but do wash all fabric before incl batting unless poly.

cathyvv

I'd rather a quilt fell apart BEFORE i gave it to someone than AFTER I gave it to someone! Then I can fix it and 'learn from my mistakes'.

I do a lot of that 'learn from my mistakes' thing...

cathyvv

I use elmers washable glue instead of pins when pieceing. So, yes, I always wash a finished quilt. I use cold water, scent free detergent, no fabric softener. I also prewash my fabric before cutting and piecing.

serenitybygrace

I haven't finished a quilt yet but I will probably wash before gifting. It takes me so long to finish a quilt, I think it needs to be washed before someone else gets it. I use "free" detergents for myself and no fabric softener. I have been environmentally ill in the past and I wouldn't give something to someone knowing it had fragrances or other chemicals in it that could possibly make them sick. Actually, those things might make me sick before I could give the quilt away.

SueSew

Yes - love the soft crinkly look which also serves to hide piecing and quilting lack of precision. Also gets rid of the starch, exposes threads I didn't see that I needed to cut, and convinces me that it won't fall apart or bleed when the person I give it to washes it!

dlong

I usually wash mine before giving away since I hand quilt with a lap frame and drag the quilt all over the place while working on it. Also I have a cat similar to another mentioned that likes to sleep on every inch he can find. My daughters are allergic to cat dander so it's simplier to make sure it's clean.

Daylesewblessed

I pre-wash fabrics and don't generally wash the quilt when it is done. However, I seem to handle some quilts extensively while working on them, and those need to be washed. I am doing my first quilt with spray basting for the sandwiching and will be washing this one when it is finished for certain.

JanTx

I wash before gifting. (Didn't for the first few since I was also afraid they'd fall apart!) BUT ... I iron them before gifting them so they don't look used - they retain some of the crinkly vintage, but still look new. I like the crinkly look, but not the "this old thing" look.

BETTY62

I wash mine along with a color catcher but I do not use detergent or fabric softner.

Peckish

Nope. Everyone who gets a quilt knows I made it especially for them, except for the charity quilts I make. I don't know that it's ever occurred to me or anyone I've given a quilt to that it's "used". There's also that pesky label, with the recipient's name, the date, etc....

To be honest, another reason I wash my quilts before giving is because I want to enjoy the finished quilt for a day or two (or week ) before it goes to its new home. I like to see how washing finishes it, crinkles it, softens it, so I can see exactly what the recipient sees when they receive it.