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The Cross-Country Quilters (Elm Creek Quilts, Bks 1-3)

Elm Creek Quilts The Quilter's Apprentice / Round Robin / The CrossCountry Quilters - Elm Creek Quilts, Bks 1-3
Author: Jennifer Chiaverini

The Quilter's Apprentice — — When Sarah McClure and her husband, Matt, move to the small town of Waterford, Pennsylvania, to get a fresh start, Sarah struggles to find a fulfilling job. Disheartened by failed interviews, she reluctantly accepts a temporary position at Elm Creek Manor helping seventy-five-year-old Syl... more »via Compson prepare her family estate for sale after the recent death of Sylvia's estranged sister. As part of her compensation, Sarah is taught how to quilt by this reclusive, cantankerous master quilter.

During their lessons, Mrs. Compson slowly opens up to Sarah, sharing powerful, devastating stories of her life as a young woman on the World War II home front. Hearing tales of how Mrs. Compson's family was torn apart by tragedy, jealousy, and betrayal, Sarah is forced to confront uncomfortable truths about her own family -- truths that she has denied for far too long. As the friendship between the two women deepens, Mrs. Compson confides that although she would love to remain at her beloved family estate, Elm Creek Manor exists as a constant, unbearable reminder of her role in her family's misfortune. For Sarah, there can be no greater reward than teaching Mrs. Compson to forgive herself for her past mistakes, restoring life and joy to her cherished home.

Round Robin

She chose green and blue for the colors of Elm Creek Manor. She chose blue for truth and green for new beginnings....She pieced a border of pinwheel blocks -- pinwheels for her windblown life, which with faith and perseverance she tried to stitch into order. The pattern was a four patch, a square divided into four smaller squares, which were in turn divided into two equal triangles, one light, one dark, like the darkness of the past...and the light hope of the future.

A round robin quilt is created by sewing concentric patchwork or applique borders to a central block as it is passed around a circle of friends. We rejoin the Elm Creek Quilters as they embark on just such a project, intended as a gift to their beloved Sylvia. But for each member of the circle, the threads of happiness begin to unravel.

As each woman adds a border to the central block, she contributes her story to the ongoing history of Elm Creek Manor. Resplendent in green, blue, and gold, the quilt serves as a symbol of the complex, lasting ties that unify mothers and daughters, sisters and friends. As they stitch together the sometimes harmonious, often discordant scraps of their crazy-quilt lives, the Elm Creek Quilters learn that friendship is a most precious gift, and that even in the darkest of times, love illuminates the way home.

The Cross-Country Quilters

The third in the Elm Creek Quilts series introduces the Cross-Country Quilters, a group of far-flung friends who pledge to complete a "challenge quilt" -- symbolic of each woman's personal goals -- in one year's time.

These five women arrive at Elm Creek Manor hoping to find in their quilt lessons an escape from the problems they left at home. Julia, an aging starlet, has pinned her hopes to a plum role in a historical epic whose director is under the mistaken impression that Julia already knows how to quilt. Megan is a successful engineer who has won prizes for her miniature quilt designs. The one challenge she has yet to master is single motherhood. Donna, a mother of two, must hasten to teach her daughter independence and self-esteem -- lessons she, too, must take to heart. Grace is a renowned curator of antique quilts, whose creative flair is waning for reasons she is unwilling to reveal -- even to her closest friends. Vinnie, the senior member of the group, is a sunny soul with a tragic past. Her overwhelming desire is to bring happiness into the lives of those she loves.

Although the Cross-Country Quilters share a common creative goal, as the year goes by their bonds are tested by the demands of daily life. But despite differences in age, race, and background, the friends' love for quilting and affection for one another unite them in a patchwork of caring and acceptance. The quilt they make reminds them of an everlasting truth -- friends may be separated by great distance, yet the strength of their bond can transcend any obstacle.

ISBN-13: 9780739432204
ISBN-10: 0739432206
Publication Date: 2001
Pages: 743
Rating:

Currently 4.4/5 Stars.

4.4 stars, based on 9 ratings

Publisher: The Literary Guild
Book Type: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Pamela W. (oz) reviewed Elm Creek Quilts: The Quilter's Apprentice / Round Robin / The Cross-Country Quilters (Elm Creek Quilts, Bks 1-3) on 6/12/2011 + 6 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

I LOVED this series. I could hardly put the books down. Jennifer Chiaverini definitely knows how to spin a tale. Its so interesting to see how Sylvia Compson learns about her ancestors and how important quilting is in passing on her family's history. Chiaverini's characters are so warm and truly believable. The details given on quilting and all the love that she shows goes into creating a quilt make me want to learn the art myself! I highly recommend this series.

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Read All 2 Book Reviews of "Elm Creek Quilts The Quilters Apprentice Round Robin The CrossCountry Quilters Elm Creek Quilts Bks 13"

Book Wiki

Common Title

Elm Creek Quilts, Books 1 - 3

Series

Elm Creek Quilts

Genres:

Literature & Fiction >> Short Stories & Anthologies >> Anthologies
Literature & Fiction >> World Literature >> United States >> Women Writers
Literature & Fiction >> Women's Fiction >> Friendship

TagsHistory, elm creek quilts series, quilting

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