WWYD? Should I prewash this quilt fabric??

I've always prewashed and dried my quilt fabric before cutting and piecing it. However, for a number of reasons I won't get into here (unless you want me to), I am considering not prewashing the fabrics for my youngest daughter's baby quilt.

Here are most of the fabrics - all cotton. Not pictured is the white fabric I'll be using for sashing and borders.  The solids are Kona cottons. The prints are from the Aunt Grace line (i think).




Do you think I need to worry about the fabric bleeding into the white if I don't prewash it?

I'd love everyone's thoughts. Thanks!

I would prewash to prevent color bleeding & shrinking. I see you are mixing light & dark colors & for that reason alone I would prewash.

Not an expert - but my take on it. As far as I understand & have seen, a printed fabric is unlikely to bleed. The dyed Kona cottons might. I've never used them, so I don't know how high of quality they are. I pre-wash mostly to pre-shrink. I have yet to have any of my quilting fabric bleed. I'm curious to see other's opinions on this.

Girl... you sure do know how to start a hot topic    This is my two cents.  I never prewash fabrics for a quilt.  If you are working with high quality you almost never get runs with the color (reds I might be more careful with although I have work with those before too and they never ran).  I like the look of the slight shrinkage after finishing the quilt.  It gives it that crinkled look that I just love.  That being said... I know some prewash because even the thought of colors running after it is done is super scary, but I like to live on the edge 

Having washed hundreds of yards of fabric over the years, including many different colors of Kona cottons, I would not expect anything weird to happen with the fabrics you've shown.  I've had Kona cottons run, even in cold water, but it has only been the very deep reds and violets.  (Even the bright, primary, red has never run for me.)  Kona colors that are similar in intensity to the ones you've shown never run for me.

There are several reasons why I would still suggest prewashing all quilting fabric that have nothing to do with colors bleeding but, in answer to your question, I would not expect the fabrics you've chosen to bleed at all.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the feedback. I'm still very undecided. Part of my reason for not washing is to get that extra quilted look that the shrinkage will give it. I also think I might cut more accurately if I don't prewash. I think I tend to distort fabric when I try to iron it after walking. I'm still working on improving my skills in this area.

That all said, I hear that not washing can gum up your needle. I don't know. I might just play it safe considering I don't think these prints are available any longer- at least not all of them!

 I should of said that I'm not a quilter & so I prewash everything for clothing!! I too love the crinkly look of quilts after being washed. I was just saying to be on the safe side but many times I live on the edge & do stuff thats not what we are "supposed" to do.

Just two more cents here . . .

The degree to which your quilt crinkles is also affected a great deal by your batting.  If you use a natural fiber batting, your quilt will crinkle, even with prewashed fabric.  The quilt in this photo was made with pre-washed fabric, some of which was un-shrink-able poly/cotton blend linens, but it still crinkled because I used 100% cotton batting.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/ohfransson/3405984396/in/set-72157614374615809/

I think this is just one of those (many) quilting situations where you just need to do what works best for you.  It's not rocket science and I'm sure whatever you do will be lovely!

ETA: I should have mentioned that I also prewashed that batting -- still crinkly after washing!

Wow that quilt is gorgeous Elizabeth!!

Thanks!

Another two cents - for quilts I don't pre wash, for garments I do.