Well.... I don't prewash either. In my opinion color catchers save oodles of time. I do prewash baby gifts or ones for people with severe allergies, though.

Hi Dottymo, Possibly British politeness would require that. My LQS's tend to think that anybody who is buying fabric from them for any reason under the sun has priority over anything else, and that when someone buys a class they are offered a discount on fabric or a discount on the class when they purchase in-store. Some classes require that the fabric be bught and offer specials on fabric and tools needed. The first time I saw everyone leave a class for the race 'upstairs' to buy fabric, I was a little confused too. But washing was the least of the problem! It was all about the bargain!

FYI-read recently that once your clothes are washed, your washer tub is full of bacteria, and remains unless you use bleach. If not, it is the dryer heat that kills the bacteria.

I wash everything. Even if it means washing it by hand.

I have been quilting for about 9 years now and have never had a bleeding problem. I NEVER prewash fabric or batting. I strongly advise using color catchers and cold water for the first launder.

Compromise
 

I don't like to iron wrinkled fabric, I don't like to cut off frayed thread balls, but I do pre-wash my own way. I don't use soap. I soak the fabric in the sink or bathtub in very hot water. If it bleeds, I soak and change water until it runs clear. I feel soaking removes much of the chemicals and the hot water does some shrinking. I don't squeeze or twist to create wrinkles. Then I lift the fabric out of the water, drain, and dry on a drying rack or on my porch railings. The fabric dries wrinkle free and requires no ironing and has no frayed threads. That is my compromise.

I made several quilts before finding this board and hearing that we are supposed to wash before starting a quilt. I wash with color catchers in my large top loader, when the quilt is finished. I have never had a problem. That includes a batik braid and a red and white log cabin. I don't have enough time to quilt as it is and I sure don't want to use the time I have ironing that fabric.

I don't pre-wash simply because I don't see the benefit of washing out the sizing put on it at the factory only to turn around and douse it with starch/sizing all over again. I do wash the quilts before gifting them & to date, haven't had a problem with shrinkage. Technology has progressed such, that I don't think fabric today shrinks like it used to.

I always wash my quilts after they are finished, so I don't see the need to do it before. Only two exceptions to that: first, I will wash flannel if it is for a backing to a cotton quilt, since they shrink differently, and second, if I do a project (i.e. round robin) where everyone else washes their fabrics.

I didn't wash my first quilt fabrics--mostly some small wall hangings that I was using to teach myself. Took a class, and as above, instructions included "prewash the fabric." Despite cutting off the corner of pieces (never figured out how that's supposed to help) and following instructions, I had a lot of strings and hated the result. Haven't prewashed since. I just wash afterward--I also like the wrinkly quilty look it gives.

May try a color catcher, though, with my Dancing with the Stars quilt, almost finished.

BTW: what's the opposite of irony? Wrinkly! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Hallie in NM