washing linen?

I bought some beautiful linne to make into a skirt for next summer. I've never sewn on it before, but I'm assuming it behaves like a cotton? I'm wondering if I prewash it, or if I have to dry clean it? I would prefer to be able to just toss it in my machine at home, but I don't want to ruin it! 

If it is 100% linen, you can wash it no problem, although you'll get some shrinkage. If it is a linen-look (which is very common and is called linen), and is either a blend of linen with another fiber or just all another fiber woven in a linen looking weave, it may or may not be washable. If you don't know, you can cut a small square out of one corner, say 4" x 4", zig-zag or overlock the edge to prevent fraying, and wash it to see what happens. You can even measure it afterwards to see how much it shrank. However you wash it, be sure to wash the finished garment the same way. GL!