diff --git a/javascript/packages/rewriter/README.md b/javascript/packages/rewriter/README.md
index 587fdd0fe..a61e7ebc7 100644
--- a/javascript/packages/rewriter/README.md
+++ b/javascript/packages/rewriter/README.md
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ await Herb.load()
 const template = `<div class="text-red-500 p-4 mt-2"></div>`
 const parseResult = Herb.parse(template, { track_whitespace: true })
 
-const { output, node } = await rewrite(parseResult.value, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+const sorter = await tailwindClassSorter()
+const { output, node } = rewrite(parseResult.value, [sorter])
 // output: "<div class="mt-2 p-4 text-red-500"></div>"
 // node: The rewritten AST node
 ```
@@ -77,7 +78,8 @@ await Herb.load()
 
 const template = `<div class="text-red-500 p-4 mt-2"></div>`
 
-const output = await rewriteString(Herb, template, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+const sorter = await tailwindClassSorter()
+const output = rewriteString(Herb, template, [sorter])
 // output: "<div class="mt-2 p-4 text-red-500"></div>"
 ```
 
@@ -98,7 +100,8 @@ import { tailwindClassSorter } from "@herb-tools/rewriter/loader"
 await Herb.load()
 
 const template = `<div class="px-4 bg-blue-500 text-white rounded py-2"></div>`
-const output = await rewriteString(Herb, template, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+const sorter = await tailwindClassSorter()
+const output = rewriteString(Herb, template, [sorter])
 // output: "<div class="rounded bg-blue-500 px-4 py-2 text-white"></div>"
 ```
 
@@ -211,16 +214,16 @@ Which means you can just reference and configure them in `.herb.yml` using their
 Transform an AST node using the provided rewriters.
 
 ```typescript
-async function rewrite<T extends Node>(
+function rewrite<T extends Node>(
   node: T,
   rewriters: Rewriter[],
   options?: RewriteOptions
-): Promise<RewriteResult>
+): RewriteResult
 ```
 
 **Parameters:**
 - `node`: The AST node to transform
-- `rewriters`: Array of rewriter instances to apply
+- `rewriters`: Array of rewriter instances to apply (must be already initialized)
 - `options`: Optional configuration
   - `baseDir`: Base directory for resolving config files (defaults to `process.cwd()`)
   - `filePath`: Optional file path for context
@@ -234,18 +237,18 @@ async function rewrite<T extends Node>(
 Convenience wrapper around `rewrite()` that parses the template string first and returns just the output string.
 
 ```typescript
-async function rewriteString(
+function rewriteString(
   herb: HerbBackend,
   template: string,
   rewriters: Rewriter[],
   options?: RewriteOptions
-): Promise<string>
+): string
 ```
 
 **Parameters:**
 - `herb`: The Herb backend instance for parsing
 - `template`: The HTML+ERB template string to rewrite
-- `rewriters`: Array of rewriter instances to apply
+- `rewriters`: Array of rewriter instances to apply (must be already initialized)
 - `options`: Optional configuration (same as `rewrite()`)
 
 **Returns:** The rewritten template string
diff --git a/javascript/packages/rewriter/src/rewrite.ts b/javascript/packages/rewriter/src/rewrite.ts
index 4156ec345..5d2e99696 100644
--- a/javascript/packages/rewriter/src/rewrite.ts
+++ b/javascript/packages/rewriter/src/rewrite.ts
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export interface RewriteResult {
  *
  * const template = '<div class="text-red-500 p-4 mt-2"></div>'
  * const parseResult = Herb.parse(template)
- * const { output, document } = await rewrite(parseResult.value, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+ * const { output, node } = rewrite(parseResult.value, [tailwindClassSorter()])
  * ```
  *
  * @param node - The AST Node to rewrite
@@ -57,15 +57,11 @@ export interface RewriteResult {
  * @param options - Optional configuration for the rewrite operation
  * @returns Object containing the rewritten string and Node
  */
-export async function rewrite<T extends Node>(node: T, rewriters: Rewriter[], options: RewriteOptions = {}): Promise<RewriteResult & { node: T }> {
+export function rewrite<T extends Node>(node: T, rewriters: Rewriter[], options: RewriteOptions = {}): RewriteResult & { node: T } {
   const { baseDir = process.cwd(), filePath } = options
 
   const context: RewriteContext = { baseDir, filePath }
 
-  for (const rewriter of rewriters) {
-    await rewriter.initialize(context)
-  }
-
   let currentNode = node
 
   const astRewriters = rewriters.filter(rewriter => rewriter instanceof ASTRewriter)
@@ -109,7 +105,7 @@ export async function rewrite<T extends Node>(node: T, rewriters: Rewriter[], op
  * await Herb.load()
  *
  * const template = '<div class="text-red-500 p-4 mt-2"></div>'
- * const output = await rewriteString(Herb, template, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+ * const output = rewriteString(Herb, template, [tailwindClassSorter()])
  * // output: '<div class="mt-2 p-4 text-red-500"></div>'
  * ```
  *
@@ -119,14 +115,14 @@ export async function rewrite<T extends Node>(node: T, rewriters: Rewriter[], op
  * @param options - Optional configuration for the rewrite operation
  * @returns The rewritten template string
  */
-export async function rewriteString(herb: HerbBackend, template: string, rewriters: Rewriter[], options: RewriteOptions = {}): Promise<string> {
+export function rewriteString(herb: HerbBackend, template: string, rewriters: Rewriter[], options: RewriteOptions = {}): string {
   const parseResult = herb.parse(template, { track_whitespace: true })
 
   if (parseResult.failed) {
     return template
   }
 
-  const { output } = await rewrite(
+  const { output } = rewrite(
     parseResult.value,
     rewriters,
     options
diff --git a/javascript/packages/rewriter/src/rewriter-factories.ts b/javascript/packages/rewriter/src/rewriter-factories.ts
index f299d5264..cdc202ae1 100644
--- a/javascript/packages/rewriter/src/rewriter-factories.ts
+++ b/javascript/packages/rewriter/src/rewriter-factories.ts
@@ -11,29 +11,27 @@ export interface TailwindClassSorterOptions {
 /**
  * Factory function for creating a Tailwind class sorter rewriter
  *
+ * Automatically initializes the rewriter before returning it.
+ *
  * @example
  * ```typescript
  * import { rewrite } from '@herb-tools/rewriter'
  * import { tailwindClassSorter } from '@herb-tools/rewriter/loader'
  *
  * const template = '<div class="text-red-500 p-4 mt-2"></div>'
- * const result = await rewrite(template, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+ * const sorter = await tailwindClassSorter()
+ * const result = rewrite(template, [sorter])
  * // Result: '<div class="mt-2 p-4 text-red-500"></div>'
  * ```
  *
  * @param options - Optional configuration for the Tailwind class sorter
- * @returns A configured TailwindClassSorterRewriter instance
+ * @returns A configured and initialized TailwindClassSorterRewriter instance
  */
-export function tailwindClassSorter(options: TailwindClassSorterOptions = {}): TailwindClassSorterRewriter {
+export async function tailwindClassSorter(options: TailwindClassSorterOptions = {}): Promise<TailwindClassSorterRewriter> {
   const rewriter = new TailwindClassSorterRewriter()
+  const baseDir = options.baseDir || process.cwd()
 
-  if (options.baseDir) {
-    const originalInitialize = rewriter.initialize.bind(rewriter)
-
-    rewriter.initialize = async (context) => {
-      return originalInitialize({ ...context, baseDir: options.baseDir || context.baseDir })
-    }
-  }
+  await rewriter.initialize({ baseDir })
 
   return rewriter
 }
diff --git a/javascript/packages/rewriter/test/rewrite.test.ts b/javascript/packages/rewriter/test/rewrite.test.ts
index 2dcc4f38a..54c1d6ade 100644
--- a/javascript/packages/rewriter/test/rewrite.test.ts
+++ b/javascript/packages/rewriter/test/rewrite.test.ts
@@ -5,29 +5,32 @@ import { Herb } from "@herb-tools/node-wasm"
 import { rewrite, rewriteString, tailwindClassSorter } from "../src/loader.js"
 
 describe("rewrite", () => {
+  let sorter: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof tailwindClassSorter>>
+
   beforeAll(async () => {
     await Herb.load()
+    sorter = await tailwindClassSorter()
   })
 
   describe("basic usage", () => {
-    test("rewrites Node with tailwindClassSorter", async () => {
+    test("rewrites Node with tailwindClassSorter", () => {
       const template = '<div class="text-red-500 p-4 mt-2"></div>'
       const parseResult = Herb.parse(template, { track_whitespace: true })
-      const { output, node } = await rewrite(parseResult.value, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+      const { output, node } = rewrite(parseResult.value, [sorter])
 
       expect(output).toBe('<div class="mt-2 p-4 text-red-500"></div>')
       expect(node.type).toBe("AST_DOCUMENT_NODE")
     })
 
-    test("handles empty rewriters array", async () => {
+    test("handles empty rewriters array", () => {
       const template = '<div class="text-red-500 p-4 mt-2"></div>'
       const parseResult = Herb.parse(template, { track_whitespace: true })
-      const { output } = await rewrite(parseResult.value, [])
+      const { output } = rewrite(parseResult.value, [])
 
       expect(output).toBe(template)
     })
 
-    test("handles multiple elements", async () => {
+    test("handles multiple elements", () => {
       const template = dedent`
         <div class="px-4 bg-blue-500">
           <span class="text-white font-bold"></span>
@@ -40,81 +43,81 @@ describe("rewrite", () => {
       `
 
       const parseResult = Herb.parse(template, { track_whitespace: true })
-      const { output } = await rewrite(parseResult.value, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+      const { output } = rewrite(parseResult.value, [sorter])
 
       expect(output).toBe(expected)
     })
   })
 
   describe("rewriteString", () => {
-    test("rewrites string with tailwindClassSorter", async () => {
+    test("rewrites string with tailwindClassSorter", () => {
       const template = '<div class="text-red-500 p-4 mt-2"></div>'
-      const output = await rewriteString(Herb, template, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+      const output = rewriteString(Herb, template, [sorter])
 
       expect(output).toBe('<div class="mt-2 p-4 text-red-500"></div>')
     })
 
-    test("handles empty rewriters array", async () => {
+    test("handles empty rewriters array", () => {
       const template = '<div class="text-red-500 p-4 mt-2"></div>'
-      const output = await rewriteString(Herb, template, [])
+      const output = rewriteString(Herb, template, [])
 
       expect(output).toBe(template)
     })
 
-    test("returns original template on parse failure", async () => {
+    test("returns original template on parse failure", () => {
       const template = '<div class="unclosed'
-      const output = await rewriteString(Herb, template, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+      const output = rewriteString(Herb, template, [sorter])
 
       expect(output).toBe(template)
     })
   })
 
   describe("options", () => {
-    test("accepts baseDir option", async () => {
+    test("accepts baseDir option", () => {
       const template = '<div class="text-red-500 p-4 mt-2"></div>'
       const parseResult = Herb.parse(template, { track_whitespace: true })
-      const { output } = await rewrite(parseResult.value, [tailwindClassSorter()], {
+      const { output } = rewrite(parseResult.value, [sorter], {
         baseDir: "/custom/path"
       })
 
       expect(output).toBe('<div class="mt-2 p-4 text-red-500"></div>')
     })
 
-    test("accepts filePath option", async () => {
+    test("accepts filePath option", () => {
       const template = '<div class="text-red-500 p-4 mt-2"></div>'
       const parseResult = Herb.parse(template, { track_whitespace: true })
-      const { output } = await rewrite(parseResult.value, [tailwindClassSorter()], {
+      const { output } = rewrite(parseResult.value, [sorter], {
         filePath: "/custom/path/file.html.erb"
       })
 
       expect(output).toBe('<div class="mt-2 p-4 text-red-500"></div>')
     })
 
-    test("uses process.cwd() as default baseDir", async () => {
+    test("uses process.cwd() as default baseDir", () => {
       const template = '<div class="text-red-500 p-4 mt-2"></div>'
       const parseResult = Herb.parse(template, { track_whitespace: true })
-      const { output } = await rewrite(parseResult.value, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+      const { output } = rewrite(parseResult.value, [sorter])
 
       expect(output).toBe('<div class="mt-2 p-4 text-red-500"></div>')
     })
   })
 
   describe("complex templates", () => {
-    test("handles ERB expressions", async () => {
+    test("handles ERB expressions", () => {
       const template = '<div class="px-4 <%= extra_classes %> bg-blue-500"></div>'
-      const output = await rewriteString(Herb, template, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+      const output = rewriteString(Herb, template, [sorter])
 
       expect(output).toBe('<div class="bg-blue-500 px-4 <%= extra_classes %>"></div>')
     })
 
-    test("handles ERB conditionals", async () => {
+    test("handles ERB conditionals", () => {
       const template = '<div class="px-4 <% if admin? %> text-red-500 font-bold <% end %> bg-blue-500"></div>'
-      const output = await rewriteString(Herb, template, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+      const output = rewriteString(Herb, template, [sorter])
 
       expect(output).toBe('<div class="bg-blue-500 px-4 <% if admin? %> font-bold text-red-500 <% end %>"></div>')
     })
 
-    test("handles multiline templates", async () => {
+    test("handles multiline templates", () => {
       const template = dedent`
         <div class="px-4
           <% if valid? %>
@@ -134,17 +137,17 @@ describe("rewrite", () => {
         </div>
       `
 
-      const output = await rewriteString(Herb, template, [tailwindClassSorter()])
+      const output = rewriteString(Herb, template, [sorter])
 
       expect(output).toBe(expected)
     })
   })
 
   describe("error handling", () => {
-    test("continues processing on rewriter error", async () => {
+    test("continues processing on rewriter error", () => {
       const template = '<div class="text-red-500 p-4"></div>'
 
-      const errorRewriter = tailwindClassSorter()
+      const errorRewriter = sorter
       errorRewriter.rewrite.bind(errorRewriter)
 
       errorRewriter.rewrite = () => {
@@ -152,7 +155,7 @@ describe("rewrite", () => {
       }
 
       const parseResult = Herb.parse(template, { track_whitespace: true })
-      const { output } = await rewrite(parseResult.value, [errorRewriter])
+      const { output } = rewrite(parseResult.value, [errorRewriter])
 
       expect(output).toBe(template)
     })
@@ -160,19 +163,19 @@ describe("rewrite", () => {
 
   describe("tailwindClassSorter factory", () => {
     test("creates rewriter with default options", () => {
-      const rewriter = tailwindClassSorter()
+      const rewriter = sorter
 
       expect(rewriter.name).toBe("tailwind-class-sorter")
     })
 
-    test("creates rewriter with custom baseDir", () => {
-      const rewriter = tailwindClassSorter({ baseDir: "/custom/path" })
+    test("creates rewriter with custom baseDir", async () => {
+      const rewriter = await tailwindClassSorter({ baseDir: "/custom/path" })
 
       expect(rewriter.name).toBe("tailwind-class-sorter")
     })
 
     test("rewriter has initialize method", async () => {
-      const rewriter = tailwindClassSorter()
+      const rewriter = sorter
 
       await expect(
         rewriter.initialize({ baseDir: process.cwd() })