I wash and dry all my fabrics as soon as I get them home. I iron before cutting.

I wash and dry all my fabrics as soon as I get them home. I iron before cutting.

Sorry, I didn't see it had posted.

I feel if you are using quilt shop quality fabrics from the same manufacturer, it is fine to skip the pre-washing. fabric will cut and stitch more accurately with the sizing in it and also if you add more starch or sizing before you begin your project. (I use mary ellen's best press and love it but there has been a lot of discussion about various starch products on the digest, so check through older posts). If a fabric is going to shrink, you will see it happen before your eyes under the iron if you have sprayed it with sizing before the pressing.
If you really suspect a color is unstable, I would check it by rinsing a small swatch under tepid water and allowing it to dry on a white paper towel. No color transfer, you are ok, if there is, then wash until it does not run, or use something like retayne to set color.
I almost always wash my quilts after quilting, so the sizing is rinsed out. When I wash them, I use cold water, and no soap, just rinse and spin and dry. That gives my quilts more of a vintage look b/c I use cotton batting.
I would *not* dry clean quilts, no reason to expose the fabrics to chemicals, and I don't think you would want a baby next to them either. Baby quilts will usually be washed quite a bit, so I think you need to wash it before giving, just to make sure you are good to go.
If you are using assorted scraps of fabric from all over the place, or lesser quality, then I think you need to pre-wash. chain stores often receive test runs and seconds and the colors are not as stable as the bolts sent to the quilt shops, even though they may look the same. This is why you will sometimes see the color rubbing off onto your sewing machine bed from the chain store fabrics, and it does not happen with the same collection from the quilt shop.
Hope this helps!

I don't know that there is a 'right' answer. I don't like to prewash - I did for a flannel quilt and you're right, it was a mess. I usually use a cotton Heirloom batting - so I figure if it's going to shrink a little, everything will shrink the same. So far, I've haven't had any problems.

Years of hot hot showers have done me no shrinkage at all, if only... :oops:

I wash all my fabric for 3 reasons:

1. Remove the sizing. You would be amazed at all the weird shapes your fabric may end up in once the sizing is removed.

2. Wash out all the "bleeding" color. Use a color catcher in your wash or white vinegar, both will keep the color from bleeding onto other fabrics and the vinegar will actually "set" the color after the bleeding.

3. Wash out the formaldahyde. That is what fabric is treated with to keep the bugs and moths off it while it is being stored for distribution. Nothing likes fabric more than a bug.

when i was doing more needlework & cross stitch than i do now, the lady @ the needlework shop told me to soak the overdyed floss in cool water with white vinegar to "set" the color. i have done that on all my dark colors since i started quilting then washed & dried on the hottest settings i have on my machines, which is "sanitize" several fabrics have shrunk a little, but nothing has run...now i buy white vinegar by the gallon @ bjs!

Wow, I just came on here to ask the exact same question! What a wealth of information!
I remember pre-washing years ago fro my first quilt (included burgundy and dark green batiks), but when I recently finished the quilt and tried to remove a small stain it still bled.

How exactly does one use vinegar - you soak it on lukewarm water with vinegar (how much vinegar to how much water?), and then wash it with detergent or just water?

I have a bunch of jelly rolls and pre-cut fabrics in blues and yellows for my next quilt, and can't imagine how I would pre-wash all the pieces :(

What is colour catch? I haven't seen that in the UK. Is it a powder or liquid?

And lastly, does anyone pre-wash the batting?

I usually wash for the same reasons mentioned here. For FQs I use a bag in the washer. I have not tried it but have read for precut fabric, if you are worried wash and spin out in a salad spinner then hang dry.