Between dogs, marking for handquilting, and the handling, I always wash mine before they go out the door. Because I hand quilt they have a tendency to hang around here for a while and I'm not the most consistent housekeeper either. So dust, messy DH, etc. Yep - wash it. Reg. cycle, reg. detergent, dryer. Just like the recipient would.

I've never thought about washing them first. I am going to start.

Always!! I want to make sure that if there are any problems, I can take care of them and I like them smelling fresh!! :-D

I haven't been washing...you've convinced me to start!

Same here! :thumbup:

so far all my quilts have been for family members, and i have not washed any of them.....but i will keep all this in mind if i do give one outside of the family....thanks for all the info...

Yep !!

I guess I never thought about doing this until now. Thanks for asking the question!

Mandy

I guess washing finished quilts is a personal thing. I do not wash after finished.....either put it on the bed intended for or gift wrap and put a ribbon on it!!!(along with washing instructions) I watched Fons/Porter yesterday-new series and Marianne mentioned she never washes her quilts when finished....and if they are meant for her house, they remain unwashed for maybe a year......she feels they mellow just being used---so I guess I am in good company.
Relate the "washing" to "store bought".....do you wash everything you purchase from the store before you use it? oops, maybe I should not have said any of this!!!!!!!oh well

All of my quilts are washed before they leave my house. I work with very small scraps given to me by a professional seamstress and they are too small to be washed before I sew with them. And I starch the scraps when I iron them. I also use spray basting, so I have a triple whammy in my quilts. I wash my finished quilts with color catcher sheets to make sure that the fabrics don't run, the spray baste comes out, and the starch comes out. Also, I like the crinkly look of washed quilts.