Sad realization with a silver lining, maybe? You don't like working with precuts and want more control over which items in a collection you will use in a quilt. Buying 3 charms @$3.50 is a fairly inexpensive lesson compared to some of the things we hear on this board, so I would guess you are lucky you have found this out now. Besides, there is no need to obsess over prewashing charms or other precuts. Just don't do it. If you really can't stand working with these charms, maybe someone here needs them and would trade you for something else. Why not check it out? I realized when I started working on this &*()$ quilt I am currently piecing that I only thought I liked the collection. In fact, I really don't like it at all. There is not enough of the right kind of variety in the prints. They are all florals. Blah. Not a geometric in sight. If this had been planned to be for me, I fear it would never be taken out of it's bin again. Fortunately I planned this for a gift. Sure hope she likes it more than I do. Feeling your pain of disappointment, for sure. Somehow it feels different to me when a precut dissapoints as opposed to a few cuts of yardage. You feel that too?