I do not prewash fabric.

The only thing I prewash is flannel.I find the sizeing gives the fabric more body which I like when cutting.If iam worried about bleeding I use a color catcher the first wash.

Same here. The lady at the quilt store said no prewashing necessary on modern fabrics. Although if one has a sensitivity or allergy, that is another story.

What is a color catcher? :?:

DITTO....this works for ALL small pieces of fabric, even FQ's

what make MODERN fabric any different from VINTAGE fabric?
It is all the same and in todays market MODERN fabrics can contain up to 73 chemicals with more than 50% of being carcinogens! So I would rather wash the NEWER fabrics than the old...BUT all fabric should be washed so to remove left over dyes, oils, dirt, and for proper shrinkage!

i do not wash pre-cuts...but i do color test if i have any colors to worry about and if there is a (mis-behavin' piece) i either do not use it or i do pre-wash and try to set the color. i only pre-wash if the fabric feels or smells funky...or is wool, or batik/hand-dyed, or the color bleeds.

I stand corrected. Thank you for this information.

The only fabrics I prewash are flannels and very dark colored anything else. Flannels only for the shrink factor. Someone told me when I began quilting 10 or so years ago, that today's fabrics are usually stable...and to trust them.
I found this to be true. I like the crispness of unwashed cottons...they cut better, are less fray-edged or distorted, and I hate when they turn out limp from prewashing. Several pros do not advise prewashing....the battle has been going on for a long time.
I also find that washing my quilts in cold water, delicate, and damp drying them in the dryer, then gently reshaping if necessary works just fine. I do small things...lap quilts, wall hangings, and the like and have never had a problem with not prewashing.

D

Agree 100%