I wash and iron and starch it before cutting. I am so afraid of colors running and ruining the final project.

I usually wash it. Then just plain iron, no starch.

Have you ever gone shopping when the new clothes come into the stores, and your eyes hurt and you get a headache? The reason, most people think, is the dye. Not so...it's the formaldehyde. And if the clothes/material is coming from China, it is even worse.

I don't have a huge stash (yet,lol) but over the years have learned to wash my fabrics, especially all the muslin, because I buy it to use in cooking and baking. And if you are sensitive, NEVER wear "the new" off of clothes. Wash them first.

I have worked at both the lower end of the retail stores and the upper end of high $$$$ clothing stores, and when the new lines come in, the chemical smells would make your eyes cross.

I do mostly because I am extremely sensitive to the chemicals that they come out of the warehouse with. By the time I am walking out of the quilt shop I am already getting hives and itchy. I stratch through every step of the process because for me it is easier to cut and piece.

I wash and dry everything, even fat quarters. I don't want any shrinkage after everything is done and quilted so I do it up front.

I had never pre washed before, but, after I heard a few on this board comment about bleeders... red, black mainly. I began to pre wash. I am making a quilt for my sister and it is red, black and white. I prewashed and then iron using starch , getting bottle of starch and diluting as per instructions.Fabric is not wrinkled.

I always wash, dry and iron but never use starch on my fabrics. I hate the stiffness of starch.

no i do not never had a problem

I do not wash fabric before cutting unless I suspect it might bleed such as a very dark color. I only use quilt store fabric brands that I trust and have had no problems. I just don't want to put any extra wear and tear by washing the fabrics first. That is just me of course and I do appreciate reading all the opinions on this subject.

If my stash had to wait to be washed and ironed before I use it, it wouldn't see the light of day very often. Once the sizing is washed out you have to put it back in. Only if fabric is questionable for some reason but sticking to good cottons makes a big difference.