Has anyone done a hope chest for their daughter/children? I would really love to start one and am looking for some suggestions for items to add. I have some of my own ideas, but would love to hear from others.

Sara

We gave both our daughters hope chests for there 16th birthday. They both have filled them with things from ther childhood and now my daughter that is expecting is storing baby stuff in hers. They both love theres.

I've never heard of doing this for children (maybe it's a regional thing?), but I have heard of fiances buying them for their future brides.

Michelle

I inherited mine from a great aunt and filled it with my fave photos, linens and such as I got older. Now I keep special linens that were wedding gifts made for my grandparents, a few of my fave stuffed animals, and a few family treasures that I just don't have room to display.

I started one for myself at about 16. I used a wicker chest. To be honest, it was mostly a waste because my taste changed so much from 16 to when I married more than 10 years later. However, I still think it is a nice idea if you put the right things in it. Scrapbooks, homemade cookbooks of family recipes, a family tree, antique family heirlooms and even basic cooking utensils like wooden spoons. The thing I did wrong was purchase stuff that became dated in it's look. My hope chest consisited of things I knew I would need and wouldn't have to spend money on in the future - so stick with basic things that never age and it will be a beautiful treasure.

That is my two cents. :cents:

Awww, Sara, you brought back such good memories for me! Bless you for keeping tradition alive!

I really didn't have anything fancy in mine. I had a complete kitchen when I moved, towels, blankets, things like that. If fact my "chest" ended up being half my closet by the time I moved out. My father was is shock when he saw me unpack that closet, lol.

Oh, a wonderful thing to put in- a set of nice stainless pots and pans and pressure cooker. I had both and I just sold the pots in the garage sale (20 years later) and still use the pressure cooker.

:angel:

HM scrapbooks, Christmas ornaments to represent each year, pregnancy/baby journal (if you have these), basic kitchen utensils, set of china, flatware, cookbooks, etc.

Think about some traditions your family has and try to incorporate them into her hope chest so that she can cherish those memories and keep the tradition, while coming up with new traditions of her own.

Noturningback: I love your idea of creating a HM family cookbook. I am about to move out of my grandparents' home and I am trying to collect all of my favorite family recipes, etc. I would have loved to have a complete book of family favorites to take with me. Hmm... no reason I can't do this myself. ;)

Just a few ideas. :)

i had one when i was young and now that my dd will be 16 in feb thanks for the idea. Oh i had dishes, pots and pans, towels table cloths (cloth ones) tons of stuff. Great idea. I have been wondering what i was going to do that was special.:)

My aunt gave me a hope chest when I was about 14 or so. I used it to store things in that I'd need later. My aunt had also given me some dishes that she no longer wanted so thats when I started putting things in it that I'd need when I moved out on my own. As I got older at Christmas time I'd ask for things to put in it like toaster, blender, mixer, etc. It was nice to have when I did finally move out on own cause I didn't have to go spend a lot of money to get the things I would need. I still have the chest and do plan to start filling it someday with things for my daughter.

I find this so special to give to our child...I have always dreamed to have a mother who would have done that for me. I find it is so heartwarming. My mom was very generous when I moved out, but this is special.

Do you think we can do it for our boys?

Sara - the memories, thanks.

My parents bought me one when I was 16 and I filled it with towels, sheets, glasses - things that I used when I first got married.

Although I haven't started one for our youngest dd, we did have one for our oldest. She had her own set of Christmas ornaments that she had picked off the tree every year until she was 18. She had part of her china dish set along with some towels and small things.

I'm thinking now after reading this and being reminded that I should get one started for our youngest dd, although she says she is never leaving home. :)

I've also heard of hope chests being started for boys although I haven't known anyone personally who has. I think its a great idea though - when I think of what could be put in theres. Tools, fishing gear and APRONS!!! :D

:bump: still looking for more ideas.

I had one as a tween (I think it started about 12 or 13?) Dad made a very basic simple chest lined with cedar. I filled it over the years with hand made items from my Granmother (crocheted tableclothes and bedspreads, place mats, embellished towels, aprons, etc) Items that my mother bought for me - some new and some used - Dishes, silverware, glassware, candlesticks, trivets, even a set of pots and pans.

When I got married, we had all of the basics necessary to set up a home. I still use and love the handmade items.

If I had daughters, I would have done chests for them

Are you creative/crafty? You could make her cross-stitched pillow cases, dish towels, afghans, doilies, etc. I know when I moved into my own home it was nice to have some things my mom had made or had helped me to make.

I had one that mom and I bought together at a tag sale. It was beat up and looked awful but we stripped it and refinished it as a summer project and then I filled it. Mom helped there too with other learning projects, like how to sew an apron, how to embroier(sp?) table clothes and pillow cases,(I hate french knots)and as family members found out I had one other things got added like great grandmas china when she passed, and grandmas giant dough bowl. Many of these treasured items are still in use today.
When DS planned to move out we took a blanket chest and filled it with several special items from home like an afgan made by his grandmother, Christmas ornaments from our tree and great grandparnets tree.
I am looking forwrd to giving DD hers when shes alittle older also the lessons my mom gave me.

Laurie in Bradenton

I had one that I started myself when I was a teen, I put cast off dishes and linens in it. My dad used to call it my "Dispair Barrel" lol.

"Dispair Barrel!" LOL! :D

We've started these for all of our kids. (We have 4 boys and 1 girl -- 10yrs and younger.)

We put special momentos in them, as well as practical things. At this time, they're a little heavy on the special and light on the practical. :)

As we find deals on quality items, we add them to the chests. (Note: our "chests" are Rubbermade totes! When the kids are older and better at carpentry, Daddy is going to help them build their own cedar chest/bench, and I'll help them sew a cushion for the top.)

We've got practical items like hand tools, cooking utensils, cast iron and stainless steel cooking pots and pans, stainless mixing bowls. The rule of thumb is no plastic and only items that will hold up for decades.

As they get nearer to leaving home, we'll focus more on various linens. I envision the kids taking more of an active role in selecting these items. Our 10yr old is a knitter, and he just made a fabulous wool potholder that he's torn between giving to Grandma for Christmas or adding to his Independence Chest.

My parents got me one when I was 15 they found it at a yard sale. was made in 1890. They redid the top and gave it to me. It help dishes and towels blankets. I need to redo the top and am thinking about giving it to one of my granddaughters when they get bigger.
Fern