I used to wash everything before I sewed it. A good friend of mine told me that she never washes first and doesn't have any problem. I no longer wash my fabric before I use it. I still have lots of fabric in my stash that was washed. At first I was afraid to use washed and unwashed in the same quilt. I finally got the nerve to try mixing them. I have been mixing the washed with the unwashed stuff for a few years now and haven't had a problem. I always use a color catcher.