I am making a signature quilt for my sister and her new husband. I was told it was best to wash the muslin before cutting as the material can have chemicals in it that would discolor the ink. I also sent along a permanent marker specifically for writing on material with a small request that the pen and the patch be sent back in the self addressed, stamped envelope. To help the person with the writing I pressed the muslin to freezer paper. I got all my patches and pens back and had some wonderful signatures and little quotes to work with.