Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
I've been quilting for 12 years now. I've prewashed and not washed. I've mixed washed with unwashed. So far I haven't had a single problem.
As long as you're buying quilt shop fabric you shouldn't have a problem. It's when you start mixing lesser quality fabrics with better quality fabrics that you're likely to have problems.
I totally agree with this, and it's been my exact experience.
Since I buy a lot of international fabrics (NOT from the big manufacturers), I might prewash the darkers ones because I'm not sure how much dye has been washed out and how much remains.
But shrinkage has never been an issue. And even when it does shrink a couple of % points, I LOVE that look.