Highmtn

If it's a baby quilt I wash/dry it before sending...but if it's not.. I don't. I have washed/dried the fabrics prior so sewing, and while I do have dogs they don't hang out in the sewing room much.

I do dryer FLUFF them just to de-lint - and remove any stray thread ends on them.
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ckcowl

Definitly! i would never let a quilt go out the door without it being laundered and ready-regardless of being a gift, a donation, or to a show- the final step to every quilt i create is washed and dried after the binding-
too many hurt feelings/undo stress can be caused by the recipient being the first one to wash their new quilt- i want to see how they come out before anyone else (just in case)

Marni

sometimes-just depends on the recipient-I rarely wash a baby quilt-I tell the mom to wash it however she washes baby's clothes-I don't keep special laundry soap on hand. Other quilts I want to see the end result with the shrinkage-a look I love. Table runners etc. I don't wash.

QuiltnNan

i wash before. i want to be sure there are no surprises when the giftee washes it.

gailinva

Yes I do, and I usually include a bottle of Quilt Soap for future care.

Val in IN

I also wash before gifting to remove starch, sizing, and quilting marks.

deedum

Yes, I always washed it after I am done with it. I don't want any surprises for the gift recipent. A thread could come loose, dye could fade (even with a color catcher, although it has only happened one time for me and it was a batik that did it). 99.9% of the time no issues, but you never know. I do not put them in the dryer though.

Annie68

Yes, I always wash.

granny216

No, I don't always wash a quilt before I give it away but always include Shout color catchers with it in case one or more of the colors were not washed. Most of the time I do wash my fabrics first but there always seems to be one that gives off color.

morelcabin

Me too!
For the same reasons...I like to make sure they make it through the wash with no issues