This topic comes up over and over and over... Now ask yourself, if fabric bleeding were not a significant problem, why would the topic keep coming up? I recently bought Harriet Hargrave's book, "From Fiber to Fabric". She doesn't pre-wash everything, but she has an exhaustive set of tests that she uses to determine whether a fabric should be pre-washed. What she does, with a good understanding of the manufacturing process, is technically correct, and it takes into account differences in water, detergent, etc. For me, it's easier to pre-wash all of it than to run through the tests. I don't mind washing, pressing, and re-folding the fabric, and I like knowing that 99% of my fabrics are ready to go with no worries. The other 1% are fabrics that will be used in OBW, pre-cuts, or really large yardage that I will wash in increments when I'm ready to use it.

I am with Dunster. I also do not mind the "chore" of prewashing. When I am ironing I get to enjoy the fabric, I love looking at it and handling it. I guess I am weird. I really don't mind doing it and what a sense of accomplishment I get when I fold it up and put it into my stash. And when I am ready to quilt I know my fabric is ready to go and straightened and ready for the first cut with no fuss. (I am not a big starch user)

I always pre wash my fabrics, usually as soon as I get them home. I dry them , fold them with my ruler and put into my fabric cabinet. Does not matter how much I paid for them. I don't want any surprises. From what I have read, the more expensive fabrics bleed more often than cheaper fabrics.

I'm with Dunster, feline fanatic and Jingle.

I prewash everything. No point in tempting fate and then being mad about it later.

I guess I am weird also (I have been called worse). I prewash all my fabrics. I also enjoy the process of ironing and folding them for my stash. I find that when I deceide to make something I really like the fact that I can just pick up my fabric and start whatever project I want to do. I think that this is one of those questions that will always have different sides. Whatever rows your boat. Will look forward to seeing some of the finished projects, regardless of what you will do with the fabric.BrendaK

I don't prewash everything. I am wondering what people do with the pre cuts that are not prewashed? They sell them to be used as is, not to wash it and they sell lots of it to lots of people not prewashed. I don't know a soul that prewashes precuts. I wouldn't worry about it.

I have always prewashed fabric...it does not matter how expensive it is or what I bought it for. My Grandmother and mother always did so I just automatically do it. I doesn't take that long but I feel better that when I am ready to use it the fabric is ready for what ever I decide to make out of it. I very seldom iron a piece, as I like to fold my fabric and if I have any skirt hangers or dress pant hangers use them for my washed fabric. But that's just me.

I am generally not a pre-washer. Flannels are always pre-washed cause they shrink up so differently. I usually run my hands or a light cloth along darker fabrics to see if there is any transfer, if so than wash but otherwise not. I do wash all my "usable" quilts with a couple of Shout color catchers before the quilt goes out the door. I have been fortunate and have never had a problem with colors running in my 200 plus quilts that I have made. Maybe I am just lucky!