What makes a toy an heirloom?

An heirloom does not have to be a luxury. It just has to survive long enough to be handed to someone else. To be a true heirloom, a toy must meet two conditions: It has to physically last for more than one generation and it has to have a story.

It has to survive being loved

Most stuffed toys wear out: A seam opens, stuffing escapes, an eye works loose, and the toy is eventually lost. Knowing how to wash a crocheted stuffed animal without ruining it matters more than most people expect, and so does how the limbs were initially sewn on. Durability isn't a premium feature. To be an heirloom, a toy must be durable!

It has to carry its story

A stuffed animal in a box in an attic is only an heirloom if someone remembers whose it was and why it was made. Otherwise it's clutter, and it will eventually be thrown out.

That’s why every Stitches by Moonlight pattern includes a printable story card with a place to record who made it, who it was made for, and when. Keep it with your finished friend and add to its story as it is loved and passed from one generation to the next.

Plus, because the pattern can be kept, the story doesn’t have to end if the original becomes worn or lost. It can be restitched again, keeping the handmade tradition alive for generations to come.