I hate prewashing fabric and haven't done it for the quilts that I've made so far. I wash them after I'm done right before I give them away. Luckily, none have bled. I like the crispness of the fabric when I cut and sew. I don't want to bother with starching and ironing after washing.

My question is how do you deal with all the strings? Is there some way to prevent most of them? I'm in a few swaps and have to prewash d/t the rules. I've done 2 loads so far and it's driving me crazy! :-(

I serge the edges of mine.

I keep a small pair of scissors right beside the ironing board to cut off little hanging thingeys. There's always going to be something to annoy me so I wait till I come up to something worth fighting for/against/about and then give it all the irritation I can build up.

I find if I buy good fabric there are very few strings...to me it worth washing fabric first. It very easy to iron when you take them out of the dyer when warm.

I usually pin the four corners together (after opening up the entire piece) and wash/dry on gentle/med heat. I seldom have those little annoying strings.

I use pinking shears which really stops all the strings and twisting.

Me, too.

I serge the edges also!

If u clip a little notch on each end of fabric it cuts down fraying!!

you can buy a 'pinking blade' for your rotory cutter- a little easier (and less expensive) than a pair of pinking shears-
pinking the edges will keep the fabric from fraying when washed.
i have found it very relaxing- to sit at the ironing board and iron freshly laundered cotton fabrics...........ahhhhhh
nice...