I DO NOT pre-wash my fabric except for red, black and blues and I soak them in Retayne before I put them into a hot wash. The amount of color left over in my sink with these colors is enough to create a rainbow.:eek:

I have 3 boys so I already have enough laundry to do, the last thing I want to do is pre-wash my my hobby. That takes all the fun out of it.:p

I wash everything. I never know what I am going to make with it. I frequently make little bags that I use a light weight fusible stabilizer with. It does not stick well to fabric with any sizing/starches or finishes.

I don't prewash. I've washed a red before, but don't even do that any more. I don't like working with mushy washed fabric and certainly don't want to have to starch and iron it before I can sew.

I have been making quilts since 1975, I have never prewashed my fabrics, and have never had a problem.

YOu are not alone!
I'd far sooner find out and deal with it before cutting and sewing ..... than to have disaster strike later on after I've put hours into a project and $$$$$$$$ for all the fabrics, batting, etc.

I prewash everything. While bleeding colors are an issue, I'm more concerned about shrinkage. I have noticed that all my quilting cottons, with the exception of batiks, shrink along the width of fabric, some as much as 2". I have found this to be true even with name brands. They don't seem to shrink at all along the length. I'm concerned that if I use the fabric without prewashing, my quilt will be distorted because the shrinkage is only in one direction.

I prewash all. Don't want any surprises after all that work. I have only so much time to piece for myself after LA work. I even prewashed Hoffman Bali pops. Good thing, too. Did it in the sink with Hot Water and Retayne. Learned a lesson there. Had to use bleach to get dye out of sink. Took 2 washes of Retayne and 2 rinses. Spun out water a few strips at a time in a salad spinner and hung on clothes rack to dry. Then pressed (not ironed). Now I am happily piecing worry free.

Hadn't tried it yet, but bought me some color catchers.

If a fabric I wash bleeds I put a handful of canning salt in the warm water. This helps set the color according to my Mom who has done it for years.

I very seldom ever prewash my fabric before using it. I like working with it when it still feels new!