I think you can get into a debate about wash/no wash that would last for hours. It is a personal preference. I prefer to "not". I just completed two large Brickyard flannel quilts for Christmas giving. I did not wash either of them until after they had been completed. I used quilter's flannel (the expensive stuff) for the front and back of the bricks and JoAnn's marble pattern ($2.49/yd) for the batting. After washing/drying in a laundromat both quilts looked great and with 1/2" seams ragged at 1/4" - they were full and fluffy. I used to hate flannel, but not any more .... now don't get me started on trying to use a flannel panel print for the center of a baby quilt. UGH!