what gifts to put in a hope chest

What Gifts to Put in a Hope Chest

A hope chest is presented to a young girl who can collect a variety of items that will come in handy after she gets married. If you wish to make one for your daughter or yourself, this Buzzle post has a detailed list of traditional and modern hope chest gift ideas.

Let's read all about it.
Rebekah Wilson's book, The Hope Chest: A Legacy of Love, gives us a wonderful insight about this old tradition of passing traditional crafts and homemaking skills to an unmarried girl.
A tradition of the past, hope chests were given to young girls as a coming-of-age gift. These gorgeous wooden chests were made from a variety of wood such as cherry, cedar, walnut, pine, etc., to keep the contents safe and in pristine condition. Over the years, or perhaps we should say decades, the popularity of the chest had reduced drastically. However, some families are reviving the tradition by presenting a hope chest for their daughters. So, if you are a mother or a relative who wishes to do the same for a young girl, then our list of items can be of some assistance. The gift ideas have been divided into 8 simple categories for your convenience.
1. Linens
Being one of the most popular gifts ideas, a hope chest will be incomplete without linens. Here, the items can include bedding sets, bath towels, hand towels, pillows, cushions, quilts, curtains, blankets, apron, placemats, a tablecloth, table runner, and many more wonderful things.
2. Home Décor
A modern hope chest's contents would definitely include home décor items. You can keep exquisite vases, couch cushions, candle holders, photo frames, mirrors, and other knick-knacks.
3. Chinaware
Another essential and practical gift idea, Chinaware is something no one can live without. Most brides-to-be pick them out before they're about to get married. However, you can give her a head start by including modern Chinaware such as a variety of glasses to cutlery and dishes.
4. Craft Supplies
If she loves handmade items that can be put on display around the house, then gifting her yarn, embroidery threads, beads, ribbons, and books on crafts for the hope chest is a wonderful thought. And if she's good at it, perhaps you can encourage her to start a crafts blog or take the hobby to a professional level.
5. Kitchenware
Nowadays, cooking a meal for the entire family, every night, is not a common idea. However, it doesn't hurt to keep the kitchen stocked with the necessary supplies. Gift her a wide range of kitchenware such as pots, pans, mixing spoons, casserole, baking dishes, and many such wonderful items.
6. Fabric
Decades ago, if a girl knew how to knit and sew, she was considered a good homemaker. Which is why, mothers would teach their daughters these skills for the future. Even though our society has evolved in the way it perceives women, and the roles have drastically changed, it is completely up to you to decide whether to include fabrics and sewing kit items in your hope chest.
7. Cherished Memories
For hope chest gift ideas that are centered towards childhood memories, remember to give items that can be cherished for a long time―an old toy, her favorite fairy tale book, old photographs of family and friends, home videos, scrapbooks, and old family recipes.
8. Miscellaneous
The final hope chest content list that we've created is for items that couldn't be clubbed with other categories, but are valuable nonetheless. Here, your gifts can include a family heirloom, old letters, baby items, antiques, insightful books for the young woman, and much more. As the contents of the hope chest are meant to be personal, yet practical, your gifts will certainly be accepted with open arms. However, to better understand specific requirements of the young woman receiving these gifts, you can speak to her mother or to the woman directly about the items she wishes to add in her hope chest.

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