While I can admire hand quilted quilts, I do not believe a quilt has to be hand quilted to be considered a family heirloom quilt. If you look back in time, when the sewing machine was first invented, women embraced the sewing machine to help them quilt their quilts. If it was good enough for our ancestors, it should be good enough for us today. If your husband still insists that it be hand quilted, hand him the needle and threat and tell him to go for it, or forever hold his peace. I would like to hand quilt my quilts, however, I have carpal tunnel from years working as a secretary to help support my family, I now machine quilt all my quilts.