I agree with the sign. A coworker once made me a small crochet afghan and although it was beautiful, I had to wash it four times to get the cig smell out of it. I also don't like pet hair on my things. It's a turn off to me when people make quilts and then take pics with their pets on them. And we've had many different hairy pets over the years, lol.
I wouldn't take the sign as having anything to do with the fabric, in fact, if there was no sign I may even ask the question.