these are the reasons that i prewash, also

I always wash everything washable before cutting it. Including the battings - if they are washable.

This includes trims like bias tape and rick rack. I would probably wash cotton thread if I could figure out how to do it.

My quilts still get "some" crinkle in them after they are washed.

I would no more knowingly use unwashed fabric than I would not use my seat-belt while traveling.

There are many that are adamant that there is absolutely no need to wash anything before cutting it.

I agree that it is a "bother" to wash, dry, and fold that yardage. I also think it is a bigger bother to deal with something that shrinks a lot or bleeds after it has been sewn into an item.

I"m not smart enough to tell by just looking what fabric will do what.

I prewash all yardage for all the above reasons but also because I want to know before I invest the time and energy that goes into the quilt making, what kind of hand/feel it has. Once in a long while, I change the plan because its too stiff or too limp or too printed off grain, etc.

Type of batting & density + curviness of quilting lines generally makes a bigger difference in crinkling than whether or not you pre-wash. I pre-wash everything due to being severely allergic to sizing (which is in most commercially produced fabric). With cotton batting, quilting lines that are typically around 3/4" apart and lots of curvy designs, I get plenty of crinkling.

I do not press fabric straight out of the dryer. I iron the larger pieces & press them once they're cut. And I starch heavily -- much more heavily than when doing home dec pieces or garment construction. On the rare occasion that I do not pre-wash my fabrics (e.g., when starting a project in a class at the quilt shop where I receive my new kit the day of class), I still press & starch that fabric and have not noticed that it crinkles much more than the one I've pre-washed. I only wash my quilts in cold water & dry on low heat because that improves the longevity of cotton fibers, so I can't say whether I might get a different result if I were to wash/dry on higher settings.

I prewash.

I don't prewash. I know that many quilters do, but I guess I am too lazy. I haven't had any real problems by not prewashing. A color catcher takes care of fabrics that might run. I am not fond of the crinkled look, but I can iron a quilt to get rid of it if I want...as long as I use cotton batting, that is.....:)

Dina

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. It all depends on the fabrics and how I'm going to use them. I have a dryer with a wire rack that I can use to dry things so they don't tumble. I've even prewashed (or more like presoaked) fat quarters ad put them on the rack to dry.

I come from a garment construction background and this is all new ground to me, too. I do a lot wearable art and those fabrics don't need to be prewashed as they will never be washed. Other things are a bit case by case.

Chem, I generally don't pre-wash unless it looks like it may bleed. I haven't had any problems. I used to but now I seem to just use it pre-washed
Every time I see your cat I crack up! :D

When I started quilting (1992), I knew nothing. I do not pre-wash now because I didn't then.

Woah.....look at all that fabric...so neat too! Beautiful sight!
I only pre-wash flannel.