I prewash everything when it comes in the door, before it goes upstairs to my stash. I do like to iron it with a bit of starch to make it easier to work with, but just like knowing it is clean....and knowing it's all in the same "state" as far as pre-washed goes.

I'm not a big pre-washer. If it's red, black, or batik, I'll give it a wash. I love those color catchers. Salt and vinegar also work well. I also wash vintage fabrics I find, just to remove any stains and/or odors.

But for the most part, I don't prewash. I love the crisp feel of unwashed fabric. And I'm lazy! LOL!

I am not a prewasher, I also like the look of the shrinkage after everything is put together the old time look. Now I will wash reds if using light colors with the quilt.

this "argument" starts here at least once a month. here's what i find more ironic than anything:

the ONLY fabrics i've ever had bleed on me have been from quilt shops. you know ... the name brand, grossly overpriced stuff that costs $9 per yard and up unless it's on the end-of-bolt sale table. the only complaints i've read about bleeding and shrinking have been about so-called "quality" fabrics. nothing from the "cheap" end of my stash has ever bled, and only two have shrunk during a span of several years.

because i am lucky enough to not suffer from alergies, i never had to prewash when i got all my fabs from the w-place. it REALLY irritates me to know that the more i spend for a fabric, the more of a gamble i'm taking if i don't prewash. [we need an emoticon with steaming ears. :x ]

(not ranting against the LQS. they don't make the stuff.)

Funny about the emoticon Patrice... I just started out that way and have kept up because if not then half would be washed and half unwashed... But I have to say the most issues with bleeding I've seen are with black fabric. I found out that if a batch is messed up (dye) then most often they will combine other colors to make black. Once I found red, black, purple and green running out of fabric. I had bought it at Joanne.

Interesting comments from you all.

I always pre-wash - lights, darks, reds, whites and probably becuase only I wsa told to so that by my quilting class teacher. I have a firend that never pre-washes anything!

I prewash all except charms and precut strips. So far nothing has run.
I buy all kinds of quilt fabric from Wal Mart to expensive quilt shops and Joanns. Also mail order alot.
I also like the wrinkle look after washing the quilt. It dosnt matter if you prewash or not it still gets the wrinkle look. I guiss its because of the batting.
The lady at my Wal Mart told me her manager watchs the fabric dept. So far its sales are good so not eliminating it. AZ has a large hispanic population and they do alot of sewing or so its seems, could be sweat shop labor. They have busted alot of drop houses here where they find sometime 30 or more illegals kept prisoner. Its a bad situation here and it needs to be stopped.

I am like you, I always pre-wash my fabrics before starting to use them. It's just something that I was taught & have done for so many years. Now they say you don't always have to, but I am still a bit leary of that. Maybe it's just old habits that are hard to let go of!! :D

I never prewash fabric and the only thing that has ever bled is a piece of red from JoAnn Fabrics.

I always add 2 or 3 color catchers to my finished quilts in the wash. That seems to do the trick for me, but I only use LQS fabrics now.

Well I am a new quilter and am trying to decide if I should start pre- washing...? I don't want to but????...I think if it was dark colors I might would...I already have two large boxes of fabric and I don't want to have to wash and then iron those wrinkles out...
I did heirloom sewing for years and all the books said to wash lace and materials before making something but I never did and guess I was lucky cause I never had a problem...I have talked to lots of quilters young and old and it is split on to wash or not to wash...I have noticed the older ladies most say they don't... :?: