If size matters (clothing, curtains), I prewash. If size doesn't matter... ain't nobody got time for that.

At the present time I am making flannel baby receiving blankets. I'm not washing the fabric because the organization I was sewing for didn't want us to as then the flannel, in their minds looked used. I'm making them extra large (over 40" square) as that size is big enough to use for quite a long time compared to the 30" square ones I've seen. Plus, if they shrink some, by the families that are getting them, they'll still be big enough. But back in the day, almost 50 years ago, when I was taking sewing lessons from a woman who taught us how to tailor make clothes, we washed everything INCLUDING the zippers. But we really didn't wash the zippers, we just put them in very hot to boiling water for just a short period of time and then pressed them out with our fingers on a towel to absorb the moisture and let them air dry. That way even the zippers didn't shrink when washed in the garment. Maybe that's not necessary anymore since fabric has changed so much, but it was interesting the first time I did it and my husband thought I was crazy cooking a zipper! 😂

I've done both. The last quilt I made I pre-washed because it was a bamboo/cotton woven and manufacturer said it could shrink up to 4%.. I washed 1/2 the fabric and it frayed terribly. The second half of fabric bundle I did a zigzag edge so it didn't fray.

I pre-wash b/c I’m sensitive to chemicals… so wash all fabric (except layer cakes & smaller.)

I have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities so prewash is a definite yes for me.

I prewash or at least presoak in hot water, then will air dry or throw in dryer. Unless it's a piece I know won't get washed, like fabic bowls.

I run the edges through my overlocker (serger) to prevent fraying in the wash. It also makes it easy to see that it is prewashed when I'm looking through my stash months (years) later! 🤭 😂

I mostly make clothes, yes I pre wash, I don’t want to wear doll clothes. For quilting, no.

I think it really depends on what you're doing. I made a pair of curtains, spent hours measuring, then I washed them, aaaaand the hem got way too far from the ground 🥲

Pre soak in warm water. I never agitate fabrics. They can be hand or machine soaked and spun out in the washing machine. I want my fabric to do everything it’s going to do before I spend hours and hours making something out of it. New unwashed fabric feels and smells unpleasant.

I'm no wash purely out of lazy. I hate ironing it out after and trrimming any frays. And I'm so artsy fartsy my colors and patters may change halfway through my process of making my design. 😂 I may regret it one day but so far I dont mind. 😊

I prewash anything over a fat quarter. Comes from my 4-H days of making garments.

Team Pre-wash.