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

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...

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.