Do I need to wash curtain fabric first?

[motherofvikings]

I have bought this fabric to make some new curtains for dd.

It said on the care instructions "4% shrinkage". So should I wash it first and let it shrink. Or leave it as curtains are hardly ever get washed really.

Thanks! :)

I always do (not that I've done it for a while).

4% can really bugger up a pattern of there is one.

Means that if you do wash them later, then you shouldn't have to worry!

Thanks Doris! :)

I don't have to match the pattern as its a long narrow window. :) Washing first seems like a pita but as there's no rush to make them (and no time for the foreseeable) I should do it shouldn't I?

Yeah, I did. The problem is if you don't and end up washing them later they may end up too short for the window.

Definitely wash them first. Nothing worse than spending hours making something then finding it was all wasted as there was 5% shrinkage not 4% and there is a gap at the bottom!