I have a rule, ALWAYS WASGH BEFORE EMBROIDERING, I once embroidered a design only to have it distort (because of shrinkage) after I washed it the first time,
Good luck
Michelle

I ALWAYS wash my material that I either sew or embroider. Sarah.

If it's a fabric that is washable I wash it prior to embroidery. Shrinkage will make the embroidery puckered./Lillian

I always wash before sewing or embroidery. I've seen too many items get distorted because of shrinkage. Hugs..Carol

Shrinkage is the first suspect when a project goes awry. I am allergic to sizing, so everything gets washed when it comes into my home. I iron my cotton straight from the washer. If I am in a hurry I will partially dry it, then deal with the length by leaving one end in the basket and the other ironed piling on the sofa! Whatever Works! Live Laugh Download Stitch!

well in the beginning I washed everything, sewed the ends together to keep it straight, ironing was a bit--, then dear sweet eleanor burns says that if you buy good quality fabric there really is no need to prewash unless you think the colors will run. Then when you make a quilt when it's washed it will all 'shrink' together making it look more antique. Anyway I've stopped prewashing and so far everything including embroidery has come out beautifully. No shrinkage and no fading, but then I only use cold water. Best thing is to test your fabric and see for yourself.

If it'll shrink, wash in hottest water and dry at highest setting. Ironing may take time, but it makes your projects so much more professional if it doesn't shrink.

Leah Day on You Tube washes and starches all her fabric, which should make it easier to handle when quilting, but I hate ironing and rather like the crinkled look in a quilt (but not embroidery)so I suppose there's no hard and fast rule, maybe? Jan

I have rarely washed before using, but know I should. I just hate having to iron! I have't run into problems since I quit washing first. Now that I'm doing emb., I think I should - at least for towels.

After having built / renovated two houses, brought up 6 children, fell in love with knitting, crocheting, sewing,
cooking, gardening etc. I painfully learned about the necessity of preparation work to be done BEFORE the treat of the actual task - so we have to face it's the same with
embroidery - you have to prepare the fabric - cotton should be washed and ironed, other fabric will do with some steam ironing. But I think it all is really worth the preparation work as you want to achieve a good result

I do wash and dry almost all my fabrics. Found if you serge/zig-zag the raw ends and then run a long straight stitch at several points on a long piece of fabric the ironing and trying to get it all lined up again is far easier and removing the straight stitches and cutting off the serged ends is pretty quick.

Always wash,dry, iron.

I don't ever wash new fabric and it appears to be okay!

I always wash before hand. The only time I don't is when the customer hands me something and THEY don't want it washed. DeVon

Wash, dry, iron; sizing needs to wash out and fabric needs to shrink. Even after that there may be puckering if you don't stabilize and/or hoop correctly.

Most fabrics are treated with 'dressing' so that they handle well in the stores. My machine does not like the stiff dressings and also many fabrics will shrink with washing...So I always wash [unless it's pure wool]. PS Welcome to the site.

But what about if what you are embroidering will never be washed? I am making a screen, which will be mounted on wood and therefore will never be washed.

If what I am making will be washed eventually, I prewash. If it is never going to be washed, I don't not wash it.