Next step, as a newbie to quilting, is the sandwich. Do you normally wash the batting first?

Thanks!

I don't. Did you wash the fabrics?

I pre shrink my 80% cotton 20% poly batting, but that is a matter of choice. If you don't pre shrink your cotton batting your quilt will "crinkle" the first time you wash. This is what some quilters want and some don't. I pre wash all my fabrics so I shrink the batting too. Quilts made from repoduction fabrics look old when you don't pre shrink fabric or batting. If the batting is in a package it would be good to allow it to relax before using.

Depends on the batting and the look I want. Polyester batting doesn't need pre-washing. With cotton and cotton/blend, if you like the antique look of a crinkled quilt then don't wash the batting first. If you want more of a contemporary, smooth looking quilt, then you will want to pre-wash. Of course when I say wash, I mean soak, rinse and dry. Most batting shouldn't be agitated much at all before quilting.

If you actually try to wash the batting like clothes, it will probably fall apart.
You would fill up the washer with water, push the batting down, but do not let it agitate.
Drain the water out and let it spin :D:D:D

NO---the batting is ready to use out of the package

I'm so glad you asked. I haven't prewashed any batting, but I have wondered if I should. Now I know and the answers make perfect sense :)

all I do is spray it with water and put it in the dryer; this gets all of the creases out of it and probably shrinks it some.

Yes, I pre-washed all fabrics. These answers are all great - since it's poly, I'll just hang and wet spray out the wrinkles. Thanks.

I have never washed my batting before making a quilt...I do like the old fashioned look...I also do not prewash my fabrics...so everything shrinks somewhat when the quilt is washed. Maybe if your fabrics are prewashed, you would want to prewash your batting?