finish the quilt first - quilting and binding. Then wash it before giving it. This way if you messed up on a seam allowance and a seam comes loose, you have a chance to fix it. You can iron it after it is washed to bring back that new appearance.

Hope you can 'float' through the quilting and binding with out any problems --Don't forget a label with the basic info

I'd wash after quilting and with a Color Catcher. BTW - your quilt is gorgeous! Love the purple!!

Once it is all finished and bound, I'd wash it in Ivory Snow or Dreft which are very gentle for baby things.

I wash every quilt I make before it goes anywhere - to me, it is not complete until it's survived a wash and dry, lol. For a baby quilt, I'd wash it in a baby detergent (which I always have, because I have children with sensitive skin, but I like my own nice scented detergent, so I do our laundry separately), but if you don't have baby detergent, I'd just wash and tell the mom what you used should she wish to re-wash in her own detergent, giving washing instructions.

Actually, I would *especially* wash a baby quilt because I use so much "crap" putting them together...starch, 505, Elmer's...it NEEDS to be washed before going near a teeny baby. :)

Edit...Oh! Just re-read - DON'T wash the top before it's quilted! Put it all together first, bind it and then wash. If you are concerned about the colours running, I hear Shout Color Catchers are great, never used them myself.

Wash it AFTER you're done quilting and use one of those color catchers. It should be fine. DO NOT - oh pleasepleaseplease - wash the top. I had to do that to an old top that was in my MIL's stash and I still have not figured out how to sort all the threads and tangles.

You did a great job on piecing the top. Good luck with the quilting, can't wait to see it. I also wash all quilts when I'm finished.

I wash all my gift quilts before they go out the door. I want to make sure it all comes out "ok"

I always use a color catcher like everybody else does.. those things are magic. I'm making a baby quilt right now...I always wash my quilts in hot water and dry them on high heat. I figure that gets them ready for the "real world" and if there are any issues they are gonna show up while I can still fix them. I'm going to wash this one I'm working on and then send instructions for it to be washed again in gentle baby soap before use. =) Its for a little bitty tiny 3# baby girl named Finley Claire. Isn't that the cutest name for such a tiny girl?

What a beautiful quilt. What is the pattern called ?