I always wash fabric, but never washed the final quilt, becasue I wanted it to look new. But someone suggested that it be washed before giving to ensure it washes OK, so I'll try the the next time.

I was taught the same thing in my quilting class and I too have spent hours at the ironing board. Since joining this board, I have had numerous folks tell me if you're buying quality fabric, there is no need. (Unless it is a red/black high dye/bleedable fabric) My stash has all been washed and I haven't bought anything new recently but who knows......I might take the plunge and gasp.......not wash the next stack that comes into the house.

Because it just isn't neccessary. I don't even prewash reds anymore. Fabrics are dyed with chemical dyes. If they "bleed" and another fabric picks up the color it won't be set and will wash out. I buy good quality fabrics and as a rule they all shrink pretty much the same. Puckering is your friend. It covers a multitude of quilting mistakes.

And even if I did prewash I wouldn't spend hours and hours ironing it all just to have to iron it again when I was ready to use it. Why iron twice? Plus new fabrics have a finish on them to help prevent fading.

I do not wash, but for those of you who do wash, I have a question, You wash your top and backing fabric. So do you wash you batting? I use 100% cotton batting most of the time, so if your washing the top & backing (Preshrunk) and you don't wash your batting it is going to shrink and create puckers correct?

I wash all my material before using and I wash my quilts when I finish them. I use the dissapering pens and the water wash out pens to do my marking and I want to be sure the ink is out of them.
The finished quilts is washed with just cold water and put in the dryer on permapress, not completely dry tho.

I prewash all my fabrics before I put them in my stash.

As for the quilts...

If they're machine appliqued...I wash as part of the process.

If I used a blue washout marker or pencil or starch...they're washed.

If it's for a baby...it's washed.

Other than that...unwashed.

Due to allergies, I have to prewash the fabric when I get it home, so unless I see some dirt on it, I do not prewash the finished quilt before giving.

I always wash mine. Just to make sure it washes well and there are no problems.

I usually leave a little "DNA" here and there so I always wash.

with a dog and cat I always wash then put in a matching drawstring bag to gift it. Never know who has what allergies at its' new home.