I'll had my 2¢ to that pot too! :thumbup:

This is the best reason of all to pre wash, formaldehyde is a deadly chemical, it has been long know that it off gasses for a long time. Our skin is the largest organ in or body, to not wash fabric means you are exposing yourself to everything that fabric came in contact with in its previous environment, and that can run the gamut from bug poop to human germs. YUK!
Pat

I usually wash after quilting. After reading this while a quilt as in the drier. I will wash first. Then I took my quilt out , 6 colour catchers still evidence of running and it shrunk.
Wash first. From now on.

I must confess do not wash fabric before and my son claimed his quilt before I could wash it. I do wash baby blankets before I give them. Other than that. I don't think of it. The mice thing will probably change my mind.

I ALWAYS wash.
I put toooo much effort in a quilt for it to FADE or SHINK.

Good advice....Thanks..

Being old (66) I have always washed fabric, to make sure it doesn't shrink, color run etc. From this board I now surge the ends so they don't ravel, and don't iron until I want to use it, as it is all stored in plastic bins and I would have to iron to use out of bin, but do fold it nice and flat with no wrinkles. Now I have another reason to wash it. Dear mice, gives me the chills. What a way for poor mouse to die. And fabric, I will never not wash again.

A question:

If large cuts of fabric may have 'issues' - why would a person think that small cuts (such as charm squares) would be issue free?

I know that washing small pieces of fabric may be a 'bother' - but if bugs, chemicals, shrinkage, bleeding,etc. might be a problem with a large piece of fabric, why would it NOT be a problem when it's cut into a little piece?

The shops can't help what is shipped to them. We lived in the far east for many years while being stationed there. Our wives club would take tours of where things were made and if you could see where fabrics are stored before being shipped out you would wash and wash. Filthy warehouses open to rats, mice spiders and snakes loved to bury up in it. And those large water bugs roaches on hormones. I don't know what they are like now but in the 60's and early 70's that was the conditions there.

I was taught, (way back in the dark ages) when I learned to quilt, to always wash my fabrics when they come in the house. That way I have no doubt, when I put something together, if it will shrink or bleed or whatever. Before I learned this little tidbit, I had had that problem with putting fabrics together that shrank differently when washed. No more!
Judy