ok, I've been won over.
I had no idea there were muslins that were the same quality as quilter's cotton. Ironically, I was at the LQS the other day & picked out a beautiful mottled fabric only to then notice it was dyed muslin. It wasn't rough at all, like I had expected.
My days of picturing muslin as the functional but unattractive mess that I used to pick up from JAF to practice dressmaking are over. I am excited to give the Benertex stamped muslin a try & have decided that I will quilt it by hand. I found that Christian Lane will even baste it for me for a reasonable fee so I can just get started straight off with the hand quilting. Yea! How surprised will my brother & SIL be when they see it?!!!