You will find equal amounts in both camps (wash/don't wash). Do what feels best to you, and if after the first one you don't like it--do something else! We work with beautiful fabric--not with lives!

I always prewash, but everyone has there own opinion on it1

Bleeding is MAINLY not a problem today, unless you are using cheap fabrics, HOWEVER, different fabrics may shrink at different rates. It took me awhile, but I learned to wash everything. I do hand applique, so for me, getting rid of the sizing helps me to shape the fabric as I wish.

I always wash fabric when I buy it. You only have to deal with a ruined quilt from bleeding once to be convinced. All that work to repair hurts! Especially hand applique, which was my learning experience.

If you had just washed it a couple more times before you dried it, that probably would have taken care of the problem. If it's loose dye in the original that isn't set, it probably won't be set in whatever picks it up. With modern dyes you generally have to set them with other chemicals.

The age old question--Do or don't I???

I don't wash the fabric except for red. Some red fabric will bleed when wet. If you wash the fabric you can put use sizing or Best press to put the finish back on the fabric. You can test a piece fabric to see if it will bleed by soaking it in warm water.

I use wonder under if I am doing machine applique.

I never wash my new fabric and I really like steam a seam Lt

a wall hanging - I wouldn't bother washing then. I do prewash all fabrics for a quilt though. That I learned the hard way - especially with batiks!!!

I wash and dry all cottons except for fatquarters. New fabric stays separate until washed. when using, I use wonder under or steam2steam. I found starching well before fusing controls most potential fraying on edges another suggestion from Polly and friend pollyv9, says don't rush pulling the backing off until it is entirely cooled and I have found this usually is best. Flannels get washed and dried at least 2 times before using.