I love the feeling of new! New anything, so I hesitate to wash my quilts. I think I am afraid they won't look as good once they are washed. I know that sounds weird. I have one that is going to a friend and I keep trying to make myself wash it, but no luck so far!

I do for several reasons.
1. I want to make sure the person I gift to gets a clean quilt.
2. I want to make sure no seams come apart or that there are no other problems.
3. i like that crinkly look in my quilts.

Exactly!

If the quilting doesn't hide the mistakes, the washing will help, lol. :lol: :roll: :lol:

I like to be sure, if I am giving it away that nothing shrinks strangely (even though I test stuff, sometimes it does) and that like the other person said, there isn't something that comes loose.
I do press them afterwards, but I have not made any really big things in years, mostly crib quilts....

These are my reasons too!! I would rather find the mistakes before I give it instead of after.

Ditto here too

dust, oil from hands, pet hair etc etc etc

the chemicals used in the fabric sizing can be harmful to some people, so I always wash before giving away or using myself.

I just finished one and it is outside drying right now. With all of the handling it is far from clean when I finish it. Also, I needed to wash out the quilting lines.