Everyone's ideas are great sounding, but call the moving company and see what they have to say about your packing your sewing//quilting items yourself, depending on the answer, I would still take my most valuable things with me in my vehicle, even if I had to rent small trailer one way :D

When ever I have moved, the movers can take everything except my sewing machines...they go in the car with me!!!

We have made two cross-country moves and both times we packed ourselves. We were cautioned by the moving company estimater that we would be insured, but the final word would be up to the actual moving men upon inspection of our boxes.

He took one look at our boxes on moving day and said there was no problem as the boxes were packed very tight and were very solid. So, yes you can be insured if you do the packing, but you should check with the specific moving company. We used Allied.

I would recommend you pack it yourself, or supervise them, my old coot was in the navy and we moved alot, you never know what is going to happen

I understand where you are coming from. I just moved fairly recently and had professionals move us, as they were paid for by my new job. They were very rough with our stuff and quite a few things were broke. My sewing machine was not handled right and somewhere in the move my bobbin case was lost and I had to get another one. Then to top it all off, they told me that all we had to do when we got to the new house that we just had to call them and tell them that we were ready for our belongings and the person on the phone told us that we didn't decide when they delivered the belongings they did. It took them 2 weeks more from when I moved to the house before I got my belongings. You talk about stressful.
I am sure though that you will not have that problem.
Just had to vent, sorry. Jennifer:(

I am the same. if you pack things into plastic boxes as you want them, then they can be repacked into other boxes by the professionals. That way it will be easier to find everything you want as it is already packed as YOU want and they will be still covered by the insurance.

I'm late in offering my opinion, but I don't think there's anything wrong with you.
When I bought my sewing machine, the salesperson told me her husband was in the military, so they moved a lot, and her sewing machine always took a lot of abuse.
If I were in your situation, not only would I pack my own stuff, I might hand carry my machine.

Just BE THERE, IN THE ROOM, when they pack it so YOU can label every container in addition to whatever labeling they do.

I would probably rent a uhaul and take my own stuff with me. Wouldn't trust the movers...

I know I would absolutely hate having someone packing up my stuff but, really? This man has been commuting all that way every day?
I say he deserves a break.