redbreast

Guess I am the lone quilter as I never considered washing before giving. But after reading all of the reasons, I am thinking it would be a good idea. The only ones I ever washed were Quilts for Kids as they require quilts be washed, I guess they must have had good reasons for this requirement. However Lineus does not require washing.

An Arm Long

I wash the fabric before piecing the quilt. I do not have cats and use a longarm so these small quilts do not get very dirty. Many people have a special soap they use for washing their baby items. The idea of giving washing instructions is a good one.

tessagin

Any gifted quilt from me gets a thorough cleansing with unscented laundry (All) and Arm and Hammer laundry booster. I also use unscented fabric softener (Seventh Generation).

rosiewell

Yes I do, sometime a quilt lays around for a while before I finish it and I do mark the design in pencil. I wash in the regular cycle in the washing machine and then line dry it.

Buckeye Rose

I always wash after completion for several reasons....first is to get it clean from anything acquired during construction or chemicals used in the fabric manufacture......next is to ensure there are no seam issues....last is so the quilt will look like it is supposed to after washing as not everyone knows that fabric and batting will shrink and pucker....I don't want the recipient to think they have ruined the quilt when it gets that crinkly look.

Z Any Mouse

Baby quilts are the only quilts I prewash before gifting. Knowing how babies like to suck on things, I would hate for them to ingest any residual dyes. I run them through a gentle, cold water wash, and lightly tumble dry. If there is a high contrast of colors, such as white with dark blue, I will also add a couple Shout Color Catchers into the load.

bearisgray

Interesting. I soak my fabrics inhot water before cutting them. Then wash the finished quilt before it leaves my custody.

I have always assumed that babies are leaky creatures - and that whoever is goong to do the laundry probably isnot going to remember do do any special care.

The only things I fear for the quilts I have made are bleach, burns, and tears.

caspharm

I always wash my quilts before giving them away. I use the all clear laundry soaps, mainly because I don't like fragrances myself.

Juliebelle

I always wash before gifting, to make sure no loose seams and to make sure nothing runs. I do use color catchers just in case. I include a little note with the washing and drying instructions for the new mom.

purplefiend

I wash new baby quilts before I give them away. So the new mommy isn't shocked when it shrinks some and think that she's ruined it.
Sharon