The Winding Ways Quilt ~ Jennifer Chiaverini

The Winding Ways Quilt

Jennifer Chiaverini

Book 12 in the Elm Creek Quilt Series


As life does, the time has come for several members to make major changes in their lives, to move far away, to start over after great hurts and disappointments, to mend fences and to be the new people to join the circle of friends.

As Sylvia sees the founding members lives changing so drastically, she commemorates each of their lives with a special Winding Ways quilt. We learn more about each of the quilters lives.

"When I think of all the different paths I could have followed in my life, all the twists and turns that could have led me anywhere," muses incoming teacher Gretchen, "it's something of a miracle that I ended up here, surrounded by loving friends."

Another beautiful Elm Creek Quilts story about wonderful people.

Book 1 - A Quilter's Apprentice
Book 2 - Round Robin
Book 3 - The Cross-Country Quilters
Book 4 - The Runaway Quilt
Book 5 - The Quilter's Legacy
Book 6 - The Master Quilter
Book 7 - The Sugar Camp Quilt
Book 8 - The Christmas Quilt
Book 9 - Circle of Quilters

Book 10 - The Quilter's Homecoming

Book 11 - The New Year's Quilt

The New Year's Quilt ~ Jennifer Chiaverini

The New Year's Quilt

By Jennifer Chiaverini

Book 11 in the Elm Creek Quilts Series

This is a lovely volume of Sylvia's reminisces of her personal trials and how they left her with sorrow and her refusal to take that sorrow into her future. As she takes up a quilt project, she struggles with reconciliation with her new daughter-in-law, who opposed their late in life marriage. Sylvia wants to convince her that family is more important than pride.

With the love of her new husband, the memories of past sorrows and stitches of love put into a quilt, Sylvia wants everyone to remember, "We can't hold on to the past, but we can keep the best part of 'Auld Lang Syne' in our hearts and in our memories, and we can look forward to the future with hope and resolve."

Another lovely story for Elm Creek Manor.

Book 1 - A Quilter's Apprentice

Book 2 - Round Robin

Book 3 - The Cross-Country Quilters

Book 4 - The Runaway Quilt

Book 5 - The Quilter's Legacy

Book 6 - The Master Quilter

Book 7 - The Sugar Camp Quilt

Book 8 - The Christmas Quilt

Book 9 - Circle of Quilters

Book 10 - The Quilter's Homecoming

The Quilter's Homecoming ~ Jennifer Chiaverini

The Quilter's Homecoming

By Jennifer Chiaverini

Book 10 in the Elm Creek Quilts Novels

This book in the series takes us on a journey with a new bride, Elizabeth, from Elm Creek Manor who travels with her new husband from Pennsylvania to California during the the twenties. Once they arrive, they discover they have been victims of a scam. Penniless and friendless, they manage to eek out a living in the Arboles Valley.

Finding quilts in the decrepit cabin they live in, Elizabeth tenderly cleans and mends the quilts made so long ago with so much love. She discovers the quilts were made by the mother of a neighbor. The women find that they share much in the hardship in life, and form a friendship that transcends the pain in their daily lives.

This is a fabulous book about the period of the twenties, especially about the hill country north of Los Angeles. Chiaverini's writing is crisp and descriptive - easy to smell the dust, the sweat, to feel the heat and the cold.

Book 1 - A Quilter's Apprentice

Book 2 - Round Robin

Book 3 - The Cross-Country Quilters

Book 4 - The Runaway Quilt

Book 5 - The Quilter's Legacy

Book 6 - The Master Quilter

Book 7 - The Sugar Camp Quilt

Book 8 - The Christmas Quilt

Book 9 - Circle of Quilter's

Circle of Quilters ~ Jennifer Chiaverini

Circle of Quilters

by Jennifer Chiaverini

ISBN-10: 074326021X

Book 9 in the Elm Creek Quilts Series

As life takes some of the Elm Creek Quilters in different directions, there are openings for instuctors at Camp. We meet the applicants and suffer through their decisions, the assembly of their applications and their interviews.

The new characters are warm and likable, sad and hopeless, and joyful and creative. There histories merge into the circle of quilting and the bonds of creativity and friendship.

Some of the stories are obvious, but you find yourself rooting for the outcome, and welcome them into the Elm Creek Quilters.

I have never been sorry that I picked up the first book in this series in a remainder bin. I still don't quilt, but I do hand work and understand the bonding and relationships between people who share a passion. I get great joy from these books and the characters that are pleasantly all too human.

Book 1 - A Quilter's Apprentice

Book 2 - Round Robin

Book 3 - The Cross-Country Quilters

Book 4 - The Runaway Quilt

Book 5 - The Quilter's Legacy

Book 6 - The Master Quilter

Book 7 - The Sugar Camp Quilt

Book 8 - The Christmas Quilt

The Christmas Quilt ~ Jennifer Chiaverini

The Christmas Quilt

by Jennifer Chiaverini

ISBN-10: 0739458817


Book 8 in the Elm Creek Quilts Series

This volume takes us back to the relationship between Sylvia and Sarah. Finding the blocks for an unfinshed quilt stuffed in the Christmas decorations, leads to Elm Creek Manor stories from the antebellum era, through the Great Depression and World War II, to the present. All of the quilt blocks are stories of their creators and their times.

As Sylvia and Sarah explore the foundations of the Christmas traditions of Elm Creek Manor, they find that though our traditions may differ, our memories are all about family and friends and the simple virtues of joy and hope buoyed by the spirit of giving.

I especially enjoyed this volume in the series. The presentation of our Christmases and the memories they evoke went from bitter-sweet to joy to sorrow to humorous to contemplative. It was reflective of the many Christmases we have all experienced.

Book 1 - A Quilter's Apprentice
Book 2 - Round Robin
Book 3 - The Cross-Country Quilters
Book 4 - The Runaway Quilt

Book 5 - The Quilter's Legacy

Book 6 - The Master Quilter
Book 7 - The Sugar Camp Quilt

The Sugar Camp Quilt ~ Jennifer Chiaverini

The Sugar Camp Quilt

by Jennifer Chiaverini

ISBN-10: 0743260198

Book 7 in the Elm Creek Quilts Series









The book in the series takes us into the world of Creek's Crossing, Pennsylvania prior to the Civil War, with friends and neighbors taking sides in the abolitionist debate.

Dorothea, a young lady in the midst of the arguments and her tormented family life, learns wisdom beyond her years over a quilt she makes. She finds herself in the midst of the Underground Railroad and learns lessons of friendship and honor along the way.

This book is riveting from beginning to end, and provides a view of the times that is valuable in understanding it.The author, again, creates characters that are quite real - loveable, yet flawed. Her descriptions of the way of life in the mid-1800's are realistic and give you a sense of the work required to live in the times.

Book 1 - A Quilter's Apprentice
Book 2 - Round Robin
Book 3 - The Cross-Country Quilters
Book 4 - The Runaway Quilt

Book 5 - The Quilter's Legacy

Book 6 - The Master Quilter

The Master Quilter ~ Jennifer Chiaverini

The Master Quilter

By Jennifer Chiaverini

ISBN-10: 0452284686

Book 6 in the Elm Creek Quilts Series

Sylvia quietly plans her wedding without her friends knowledge. When her friends discover her secret, they begin one of their own. Her friends wish to honor Sylvia and Andrew with yet another surprise - a wedding quilt. They contact former Elm Creek Quilt Campers to get the 140 squares needed for the quilt. They wait in secretive anticipation for the sqaures to arrive so that they can assemble the quilt.

The secrecy is deeper than the topic of the quilt and the secrets in the lives of these friends threaten to tear apart the unity and friendship that they have so enjoyed. They once again relearn the lessons that we all need to be reminded of - honestly, loyalty and friendship.

Book 1 - A Quilter's Apprentice
Book 2 - Round Robin
Book 3 - The Cross-Country Quilters
Book 4 - The Runaway Quilt

Book 5 - The Quilter's Legacy

The Quilter's Legacy ~ Jennifer Chiaverini

The Quilter's Legacy

By Jennifer Chiaverini

ISBN-10: 0452284678

Book 5 in the Elm Creek Quilts Series

The continued interweaving of history, quilting, families and friends continues in this volume.

Sylvia begins a search for her Mother's quilts - quilts sold by her sister decades before. In searching for the quilts she uncovers more of the family history, including the flu epidemic of 1918. Her search leads her on a cross-country journey with the man she has come to love and wishes to marry.

While the search was begun to find the quilts, what Sylvia finds is the history of her Mother's life that she knew little of. She also learns that love is not impossible despite her age, though others acceptance of it might be more challenging, just as it was for her mother.

Book 1 - A Quilter's Apprentice
Book 2 - Round Robin
Book 3 - The Cross-Country Quilters
Book 4 - The Runaway Quilt

The Runaway Quilt ~ Jennifer Chiaverini

The Runaway Quilt

Jennifer Chiaverini

ISBN: 0452283981
Book #4 in the Elm Creek Quilt Series

This volume in the series finds Sylvia going through the attic and finding antique quilts and journal of her ancestor, Gerda, which describes the Civil War ear and the family's role in the Underground Railway and the use of quilts to that end.

In this volume, we learn a great deal about the history of the family and Elm Creek Manor and the heritage of quilts throughout the country. The trip along the Underground Railroad will long be remembered by readers.

This is a fascinating look at a little known chapter in history.

Book 1 - A Quilter's Apprentice
Book 2 - Round Robin
Book 3 - The Cross-Country Quilters

The Cross Country Quilters ~ Jennifer Chiaverini

The Cross Country Quilters
by Jennifer Chiaverini

ISBN-10: 0452283086

3rd in the Elm Creek Quilts Series

Elm Creek Quilts Camp is in full swing. Quilters come from across the country to take classed, seek inspiration and joy in their craft and to make new friends. The art of quilting unites people who would never meet otherwise.

Five quilters who attend camp decide to make a challenge quilt; each will design blocks that represent their lives and goals and share them when they reunite at Camp the next year.

As we follow them through the year, what keeps them going through the trials of life is the friendship that is interwoven in the stitches of their quilts and the promises they made one another before they stitched their quilts.

While I do not quilt, I am a handspinner and knitter and our get togethers hold a special charm and wealth of creativity that craftsmen will share. These charms make new acquaintances fast friends.

Book 1 - A Quilter's Apprentice
Book 2 - Round Robin

Round Robin ~ Jennifer Chiaverini

Round Robin by Jennifer Chiaverini

ISBN-10: 0452282276

2 in the Elm Creek Quilts Series


A Round Robin Quilt is one that is handed around to several quilters who each add to the craft and the design and the theme, interweaving their ideas and lives into one creation.

Elm Creek Manor has become a haven for quilters and a school to teach quilting. A group of friends, the Elm Creek Quilters, has started a Camp for quilters. The Elm Creek Quilters have decided to create a quilt for Sylvia. As the quilt is passed from quilter to quilter, their stories and the history of Elm Creek Manor continue to evolve.

Once again, we meet very real women who are united by their love of quilting and allow that love to overcome their vast differences.

"..a continuing tale of friendship and loyalty in which quilting is a bountiful metaphor for the way we stitch our lives together, piece by imperfect piece."




Book 1 in the series A Quilter's Apprentice.

The Quilter's Apprentice ~ Jennifer Chiaverini

The Quilter's Apprentice

Jennifer Chiaverini

1st Book in the Elm Creek Quilts Series

ISBN 0452281725

I picked up this book from the remainders bin several years ago. Little did I know that I would be embarking on a journey that still continues. I am not a quilter, though I admire those who are. As a spinner and knitter, I understand the tactile pleasure and the creative expression. So, my interest was in the story of people who shared this love.

A Quilter's Apprentice begins the journey of Sarah McClure and her husband. Moving to a new town, Sarah finds herself without a job and with few prospects. She takes a job with Sylvia Compson, a seventy-five year old who is sorting through the family home from which she was long estranged, for eventual sale. Sylvia is bitter and lonely. Sarah is desperately unhappy. Sarah trades some of her salary for quilting lessons from Sylvia.

Sylvia slowly confides the history of Elm Creek Manor and the tribulations of World War II that tore the family apart with tragedy, betrayal and jealousy. Sarah comes to terms with the uncomfortable truths about her own family.

Through the sorting of the house and the quilting lessons, a bond of friendship and trust develops between the two women, who came to the relationship with little in common. As they both learn to forgive themselves and to live life forwards, rather than backwards, joy enters their lives, which are now changed forever.

The characters are strong women with likable traits and vivid flaws. They are people we know. We share their pains and sorrows and we celebrate their victories.

This series can be read out of order, but it is more enjoyable to read in order, as the characters develop and change.