Many years ago my mentor who was almost 35 years older than me showed me a quilt she had made using handprints. Each member of her huge extended family had given her an outline of their hand remembering that the hand had to be drawn but another so that the dominant hand was the drawing. She then transferred their hand outline on to muslin which was then appliqued on to a printed calico fabric. Each hand included the name and date of birth of the individual. They also included things such as wedding rings or other rings. One member had lost a finger due to an accident and that hand print reflected the loss. Baby hands were also included. She treasured this quilt and when she became ill knowing her time on this earth was coming to an end she told her family that she wanted it to be wrapped around her before she was cremated.
When she told me this story at first I was so amazed at all the family members included in the quilt and that they were willing to participate. Then I thought how could her family bear to part with it when the time came. But it was Nellie's wish to have the love of her family comforting her until the end and beyond. She was very well loved by everyone who knew her.
I think any way you decide to put your hand quilt together will be cherished by all who receive the love you put into it.