Book(s): The Wedding Quilt, Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts

A Double Wedding Ring embellished with floral appliqués, a cherished gift for a very special bride.

Pieced and appliquéd by Jennifer Chiaverini. Quilted by Sue Vollbrecht.

Book(s): The Union Quilters, Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts

In THE UNION QUILTERS, Dorothea sends her beloved husband, Thomas, off to war with this quilt, in hopes that it will offer him warmth, comfort, and a reminder of home while they are apart.

Designed by Jennifer Chiaverini. Pieced by Geraldine Neidenbach. Quilted by Sue Vollbrecht.

Book(s): The Aloha Quilt, Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts

Bonnie is given the pattern for “The Aloha Quilt,” inspired by the Bird of Paradise flower, by Hinano, a man she befriends in Lahaina during her stay on Maui.

Book(s): The Aloha Quilt, Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts

In The Aloha Quilt, Bonnie Markham designs and makes her first quilt in the Hawaiian style, “Pineapple Patch,” under the watchful eye of her new friend, Midori, an experienced Hawaiian quilter.

Book(s): A Quilter’s Holiday, Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts

In A Quilter’s Holiday, Gretchen completes a quilt of Augusta blocks as a last request from her beloved graduate school mentor. This version is made from my fabric line, “Elm Creek Quilts: Joanna’s Collection” from Red Rooster Fabrics.

Designed and machine pieced by Jennifer Chiaverini, machine quilted by Sue Vollbrecht, 2009.

Book(s): A Quilter’s Holiday, Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts

“Cornucopia of Thanks” is a sampler of the gratitude blocks the Elm Creek Quilters place into the cornucopia centerpiece as well as a few others from the holiday quilts they work upon during their daylong quilting session in A Quilter’s Holiday.

Pieced by Jennifer Chiaverini. Quilted by Sue Vollbrecht

Book(s): A Quilter’s Holiday, Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts

When the Elm Creek Quilters celebrate their annual Quilter’s Holiday with a daylong quilting marathon, Sylvia’s task is to complete a quilt to sell at her church’s Holiday Boutique, a fundraiser for a local food pantry. Chimneys and Cornerstones blocks frame Star of the Magi blocks, and the rich red, green, gold, and purple fabrics add the perfect seasonal touch to “Holiday Blessings.”

Pieced by Jennifer Chiaverini. Quilted by Sue Vollbrecht.

Book(s): A Quilter’s Holiday

Sarah McClure makes this warm, rich Twin Stars Log Cabin quilt as a Christmas gift for her father-in-law in my fifteenth Elm Creek Quilts novel, A Quilter’s Holiday. My pattern was published in the December/January 2010 issue of Quilt Magazine, and you can download it here.

Book(s): The Lost Quilter, Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts

“Mr. Lincoln’s Spy” pays tribute to Joanna’s role as a spy for the Union army while living in wartime Charleston in The Lost Quilter. This pattern originally appeared in the August/September 2010 issue of Country Woman magazine, and I thank them for allowing me to include it in Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts.

Pieced by Jennifer Chiaverini. Quilted by Sue Vollbrecht

Book(s): The Lost Quilter, Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts

Pieced by Geraldine Neidenbach and Heather Neidenbach. Quilted by Sue Vollbrecht.

Book(s): The Quilter’s Kitchen, Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts

“Anna’s Kitchen,” uses fabrics from Jennifer's “Elm Creek Quilts: The Quilter’s Kitchen” fabric line from Red Rooster and was inspired by the cover art and endpaper blocks from The Quilter’s Kitchen.

Pieced and appliquéd by Jennifer Chiaverini. Quilted by Sue Vollbrecht.

In The Quilter’s Kitchen, Master Quilter and founding Elm Creek Quilter Sylvia Bergstrom Compson Cooper shares the stage with newcomer Anna Del Maso, recently hired as the head chef of Elm Creek Quilt Camp. Elm Creek Manor was built in 1858, and when Anna saw the kitchen for the first time during her job interview, she was dismayed to discover that it looked every year of its age. Fortunately, Sylvia agreed that the kitchen was long overdue for an upgrade, and with camp over for the summer, the contractors are ready to begin. Sylvia and Anna must clear out the cabinets and cupboards, sorting useful items from clutter that should have been thrown out long ago. As they do, they discover cherished Bergstrom family heirlooms—an old gingham tablecloth, Great-Aunt Lydia’s feedsack aprons, a cornucopia made by Sylvia’s sister, Sylvia’s mother’s favorite serving dish—and each unearthed treasure stirs Sylvia’s memory. Special occasions Sylvia recalls include not only holidays such as Christmas, New Year’s, and Thanksgiving, but also days memorable to residents of Elm Creek Manor from generations past—the annual harvest dances that brought the community together before the Second World War, the family picnics, the potlucks shared with friends and neighbors.At the end of the novel, Anna and Sylvia decide to preserve what remains of Great Aunt Lydia’s feedsack apron collection by piecing together its scraps into a charming wall hanging quilt to adorn a wall of the newly remodeled kitchen.

Book(s): The Winding Ways Quilt, Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts

In The Winding Ways Quilt, readers discover how several of the Elm Creek Quilters first met on one momentous day while browsing through Bonnie’s quilt shop, Grandma’s Attic. Judy, nine months pregnant, goes into labor while searching for the perfect border fabric for a crib quilt, which she wanted very much to complete before her baby’s arrival. In the rush to the hospital, Judy leaves the unfinished quilt top behind. Eager to help, Bonnie, Summer, Gwen, Diane, and Agnes decide to finish the quilt— “Welcome, Baby Emily!” —in time for the mother and daughter’s homecoming.

Pieced by Jennifer Chiaverini. Quilted by Sue Vollbrecht

Book(s): The Winding Ways Quilt, Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts

In The Winding Ways Quilt, readers learn that Elm Creek Quilter Diane Sonnenberg was compelled to learn to quilt after visiting a local guild’s show and discovering a Viewer’s Choice ribbon on a quilt made by her next-door neighbor and fiercest rival. “Springtime in Waterford” uses the Providence block and bright colors evocative of a lovely Pennsylvania spring in full bloom.

Pieced by Jennifer Chiaverini. Quilted by Sue Vollbrecht

Book(s): The Winding Ways Quilt, Traditions from Elm Creek Quilts

In The Winding Ways Quilt, Sylvia makes this quilt as a gift for her friends, a symbol of the different paths through life they will follow and how they will always be welcomed home to Elm Creek Manor. Sylvia’s version is actually nine separate quilts of nine blocks apiece, hung closely together so that they appear to be a single quilt. Unlike Sylvia, I made one single quilt, but like her I used different fabrics for each section inspired by the Elm Creek Quilters’ personalities.

Machine pieced by by Jennifer Chiaverini using fabrics from "Elm Creek Quilts: The Winding Ways Quilt Collection" from Red Rooster Fabrics, machine quilted by Sue Vollbrecht, 2009.

Book(s): The New Year’s Quilt

In The New Year’s Quilt, Sylvia hopes to win over her reluctant daughter-in-law with the gift of a quilt, and the truths quilting reveals about the bonds of love and family. As Sylvia stitches the blocks, each one reminds her of the holiday traditions of Elm Creek Manor, celebrating generations past and offering hope for her new family’s future.

Machine pieced and appliquéd by Jennifer Chiaverini using fabrics from "Elm Creek Quilts: The New Year's Quilt Collection" from Red Rooster Fabrics, machine quilted by Sue Vollbrecht, 2007.

Book(s): The Quilter’s Homecoming, More Elm Creek Quilts

An antique quilt I discovered at the Stagecoach Inn museum in Newbury Park, California while researching The Quilter’s Homecoming inspired “Arboles Valley Star, which Elizabeth names in honor of her new home in Southern California. The pattern for “Arboles Valley Star” appears in my third pattern book, More Elm Creek Quilts (C&T Publishing, 2008).

Machine pieced and quilted by Pat Morris, 2007. Fabrics: "Elm Creek Quilts: Elizabeth's Collection" from Red Rooster Fabrics.

Book(s): The Quilter’s Homecoming, More Elm Creek Quilts

While researching The Quilter’s Homecoming at the Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newbury Park, California, I discovered the antique quilt spread upon a bed in the Newbury cabin that inspired this design.  In the novel, Elizabeth discovers this quilt in the ramshackle cabin that becomes the newlyweds’ home, and the octagonal blocks remind her of wagon wheels. She names the quilt “Road to Triumph Ranch” in honor of all the pioneer women who made their way to the Arboles Valley, drawn by the promise of prosperity. The pattern for “Road to Triumph Ranch” appears in my third pattern book, More Elm Creek Quilts (C&T Publishing, 2008).

Machine pieced by Heather Neidenbach, machine quilted by Sue Vollbrecht, 2006.

Book(s): The Quilter’s Homecoming, More Elm Creek Quilts

The Chimneys and Cornerstones quilt that Sylvia’s cousin, Elizabeth Bergstrom Nelson receives as a wedding gift from her Great-Aunt Lucinda in The Quilter’s Homecoming actually made its first appearance in The Quilter’s Apprentice. Members of the Elm Creek Readers’ Circle generously contributed all of the beautiful blocks using two variations of the traditional design. The pattern for “Lucinda’s Gift” appears in my third pattern book, More Elm Creek Quilts (C&T Publishing, 2008).

Book(s): Circle of Quilters

In Circle of Quilters, the Elm Creek Quilters must select two new teachers to join their staff, replacing Judy and Summer. As a part of the application process, each of the five finalists was instructed to design an Elm Creek Quilts quilt block as a test of their quilting skills, creativity, and understanding of the spirit of Elm Creek Quilts.

I decided to invite Elm Creek Quilts fans to design an original quilt block to be used as the new logo for Elm Creek Quilts. The entries were as delightful and varied as those in the story do, and the block that best captured the spirit of Elm Creek Quilts was chosen by an online vote. The grand prize winning block was made by Jane Klocker. Click here to see the complete list of finalists.

C&T Publishing has made the 10 winning block patterns available in a downloadable eBook called To Be an Elm Creek Quilter featuring a sampler quilt project.

Book(s): Circle of Quilters, More Elm Creek Quilts

When Gretchen Hartley arrives for her job interview at Elm Creek Quilt Camp in Circle of Quilters, she is astonished to discover a camper working on one of her own original designs, a Dogtooth Violet quilt identical to her own except for the fabric selections, Unraveling the mystery of how her quilt came to be duplicated forces Gretchen to face the unsettling possibility that her unscrupulous business partner has been deceiving her. The pattern for “Violets for Gretchen” appears in my third pattern book, More Elm Creek Quilts (C&T Publishing, 2008).

Machine pieced by Rita DeMarco from "Elm Creek Quilts: Circle of Quilters Collection" from Red Rooster Fabrics, machine quilted by Anne Smith, 2007.

Book(s): The Christmas Quilt, More Elm Creek Quilts

"Christmas Greetings” features art from the cover and endpapers of The Christmas Quilt and is made from my “Elm Creek Quilts: The Christmas Quilt Collection” fabric line from Red Rooster Fabrics. The pattern for “Christmas Greetings” appears in my third pattern book, More Elm Creek Quilts (C&T Publishing, 2008).

Machine pieced and appliquéd by Jennifer Chiaverini. Quilted by Sue Vollbrecht. 2005.

Book(s): The Christmas Quilt, More Elm Creek Quilts

Featured in the novel The Christmas Quilt, “Christmas Memories” includes Feathered Stars, Sawtooth Stars, and appliquéd holly leaves and berries. The pattern for “Christmas Memories” appears in my third pattern book, More Elm Creek Quilts (C&T Publishing, 2008).

Several generations of Bergstrom women work upon "Christmas Memories" in the novel The Christmas Quilt. This quilt was designed by Jennifer Chiaverini, pieced and appliquéd by Carol Hattan, and quilted by Sue Vollbrecht.

Book(s): The Sugar Camp Quilt, More Elm Creek Quilts

Since the publication of the first Elm Creek Quilts novel, it has become a tradition for me to recreate the quilts my characters make in my stories. In my new novel, THE SUGAR CAMP QUILT, Dorothea Granger sews a quilt using the Album block, a traditional “friendship quilt” pattern. Instead of the customary signatures of her friends, Dorothea obtain scraps of muslin autographed by authors and “other personages of note.” She stitches a signed piece into the center of each block, sews the blocks together, and raffles off the finished quilt to raise money to build a public library. Dorothea’s project inspired me to create an Authors’ Album opportunity quilt for an organization close to my heart: Capital Candlelighters, the Madison, Wisconsin branch of the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Capital Candlelighters is a non-profit organization serving families whose children have been diagnosed with cancer, especially those treated at the University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital. Its mission is to educate, support, serve, and advocate for children with cancer, their families, survivors of childhood cancer, and the professionals who care for them. The director happens to be my best friend, Anne Spurgeon, whose name you might recall from the acknowledgment pages of my novels. Anne is not only a dear friend, a talented historian, and an exacting reader; she is also the mother of a childhood cancer survivor (as well as two other great kids). For years Anne has passionately supported and advocated for other families facing the ordeals and uncertainties that follow a diagnosis of cancer. She continuously impresses me with her tireless dedication to others, and I wanted to do my small part to help.

I set about collecting the autographs of the authors I know personally and gathered more from authors whose book tours brought them to the Madison area. With the help of my editor, Denise Roy, and my agent, Maria Massie, I obtained even more signatures. Other authors responded to requests sent through the internet. As support for the Authors' Album quickly grew, Anne--always generous--suggested that we share the proceeds with the national Candlelighters office, which would allow the quilt to benefit even more children and their families. Click on the thumbnails for close-up views of some of the completed blocks so that you can see how many of your favorite authors have graciously lent their names to this project. I also encourage you to visit the web sites for Capital Candlelighters and the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation so you can see for yourself how the funds raised from this opportunity quilt were put to good and essential use for young cancer patients and their familes. Click on the thumbnail for a larger image of the quilt block. Click on the author's name for his or her web site (if available).

	Alex Anderson Author of numerous quilting books and popular hostess of HGTV's Simply Quilts.
	Jerry Apps Author of numerous works of nonfiction, including Ringlingville USA, Every Farm Tells A Story, and Rural Wisdom.
	Dean Bakopoulos Named one of America's best new fiction writers by the Virginia Quarterly in 2004 and author of the novel Please Don't Come Back from the Moon.
	Dave Barry The Pulitzer Prize winning humor columnist for the Miami Herald whose work appears in more than 500 newspapers in the United States and abroad. He is also the author of 25 books, but, according to his website, "virtually none of them contains useful information."
	Max Barry The Australian author of the satiric novels Syrup (included on the 1999 Los Angeles Times Best Books of the Year list), Jennifer Government (a finalist for Borders' 2003 Original Voices award and a 2003 New York Times Notable Book), and the forthcoming Company.
	Carrie Bebris Author of the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries, including Pride and Prescience and Suspense and Sensibility.
	Elizabeth Berg Author several critically acclaimed, beloved novels, including Open House, The Art of Mending, and the forthcoming The Year of Pleasures.
	Jinny Beyer An award-winning quilter, fabric designer, and author of more ten books on quilting, including Quiltmaking By Hand, Patchwork Portfolio, and Color Confidence for Quilters.
	Judy Blume Beloved bestselling author of books for children and adults, including Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, Superfudge, Blubber, Wifey, Just As Long As We're Together, and the New York Times #1 best seller, Summer Sisters More than 75 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into more than twenty languages. In 2004, Judy Blume was awarded an honorary National Book Award for her contributions to American letters.
	Barbara Brackman Author of numerous books on quilt history, including Quilts in the Civil War, Patchwork Souvenirs, and America's Printed Fabrics.
	Ray Bradbury Legendary master of science fiction and author of more than five hundred published works, including the books The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated Man, Fahrenheit 451, and Something Wicked This Way Comes. In 2000, Ray Bradbury was awarded the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
	Jan Brett Author and illustrator of many beloved children's books, including The Mitten, Fritz and the Beautiful Horses, Hedgie's Surprise, and The Umbrella.
	Eric Carle The renowned, award-winning author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Busy Spider, Mister Seahorse, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (with Bill Martin, Jr.).
	Jennifer Chiaverini The New York Times bestselling author of the Elm Creek...Oh, right. That's me.
	Beverly Cleary The beloved, award-winning author of many novels for young readers, including the Ramona books, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Dear Mr. Henshaw, and Henry Huggins. Beverly Cleary has written two Newbery Honor books, won the 1984 John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, and was named a 2000 Library of Congress "Living Legend."
	Jennifer Crusie The New York Times bestselling author of more than 15 novels including Bet Me, Faking It, Welcome to Temptation, and Crazy for You.
	Sandra Dallas Celebrated author of historical fiction, including The Persian Pickle Club and The Chili Queen, and the nonfiction account of women pioneers on the Overland Trail to Colorado, The Quilt that Walked to Golden.
	Tenaya Darlington Author of the recently published novel, Maybe Baby, and columnist for Isthmus, an alternative weekly in Madison, Wisconsin.
	Diane Mott Davidson Bestselling author of the Goldy Schulz culinary mysteries, including Double Shot, Chopping Spree, and Sticks & Scones.
	Mimi Dietrich Quilter, lecturer, and author of many popular quilting books, including Easy Applique Samplers, Happy Endings, and Quilts from the Smithsonian.
	Lois Duncan Acclaimed author of 48 books ranging from children's picture books to adult novels, including the young adult thrillers I Know What You Did Last Summer, A Gift of Magic, and Gallows Hill.
	Monica Ferris Author of the Betsy Devonshire needlework mystery series, including Crewel World and Cutwork.
	Earlene Fowler Agatha award-winning author of the Benni Harper mystery series, including Arkansas Traveller, Seven Sisters, and Mariner's Compass.
	Linda Franz Award-winning quilter and author of Quilted Diamonds and Quilted Diamonds 2.
	Margaret George Critically acclaimed author of the bestselling historical novels The Autobiography of Henry VIII, Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles,, Cleopatra, and Mary, Called Magadalene.
	Karin Gillespie Author of the delightful Bottom Dollar Girls series, including Bet Your Bottom Dollar and the forthcoming A Dollar Short.
	Sue Grafton Bestselling author of the Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mystery Series, including A is for Alibi, Q is for Quarry, and R is for Ricochet.
	Jane Hamilton Critically acclaimed, bestselling author of several novels, including A Map of the World, Disobedience, The Short History of a Prince, and The Book of Ruth.
	M'Liss Rae Hawley Internationally known quilter, teacher, fabric designer, and author of six books about quilting, including Phenomenal Fat Quarter Quilts and Everyday Embellishments. She is also the host of the television program M'Liss's World of Quilts.
	Jane Heller Author of twelve popular romantic comedies with a twist of suspense, including Best Enemies, Lucky Stars, and the forthcoming An Ex to Grind.
	Kevin Henkes Author and illustrator of many beloved books for children and young adults, including Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Julius, Baby of the World, Olive's Ocean, and Caldecott Medal winner Kitten's First Full Moon.
	Virginia Holman The award-winning author of the wrenching, unforgettable memoir, Rescuing Patty Hearst.
	Maddy Hunter Author of the critically acclaimed, bestselling Passport to Peril mystery series, including Alpine for You, Top 'o the Mournin', and Pasta Imperfect.
	Sophie Kinsella Bestselling British author of several delightful novels including Confessions of a Shopaholic, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Shopaholic and Sister, and Can You Keep A Secret? .
	Lorna Landvik Author of the bestselling novels Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons, Patty Jane's House of Curl, Your Oasis on Flame Lake, Welcome to the Great Mysterious, and The Tall Pine Polka.
	Chang-rae Lee Winner of the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for his debut novel, Native Speaker, and author of the critically accliamed novels A Gesture Life and Aloft, Chang-Rae Lee was also named one of the twenty best American writers under forty by the New Yorker
	Ursula K. Le Guin Award-winning, critically acclaimed author of twenty novels, many anthologized short stories, six volumes of poetry, thirteen children's books, four collections of essays, and literary criticism. Her awards and accolades include multiple Hugo Awards, Nebula Awards, Locus Awards, the Newbery Silver Medal Award, and the National Book Award for Children's Books. Some of her best known works include the Earthsea books, The Left Hand of Darkness, The Lathe of Heaven, and Gifts.
	John Lescroart Bestselling author of fifteen novels, including suspenseful legal thrillers The Motive, The Second Chair, and The Hearing.
	Lois Lowry Author of Newbery award winning books Number the Stars and The Giver, as well as many other beloved books for younger readers, including the Anastasia series, the Sam Krupnik series, and stand alone novels such as Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye and A Summer to Die.
	Jo-Ann Mapson Author of eight novels, including Hank & Chloe, The Wilder Sisters, and Bad Girl Cleek, as well as many freelance articles, national book reviews, and a monthly column on the writing life for Art Matters.
	Judy Martin Popular author of 17 quilting books, including Knockout Blocks and Sampler Quilts, Piece 'n' Play Quilts and The Creative Pattern Book.
	Jacquelyn Mitchard Author of The Deep End of the Ocean, the first selection of Oprah Winfrey's Book Club, and several other novels and children's books, including A Theory of Relativity and Baby Bat's Lullaby.
	Audrey Niffenegger Acclaimed artist and bestselling author of The Time-Traveller's Wife.
	Brenda Papadakis Quilter and author of Dear Jane: The Two-Hundred Twenty-Five Patterns from the 1863 Jane A. Stickle Quilt and Dear Hannah.
	Tom Perrotta Critically acclaimed author of Election, Joe College, and Little Children.
	Diane Phalen Watercolor artist best known for her quilt landscapes and author of Diane Phalen Quilts, Joe College, and Diane Phalen Quilts from a Painter's Art.
	Anna Quindlen Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and bestselling author of several books, including Black and Blue, One True Thing, and A Short Guide to a Happy Life.
	Lucinda Rosenfeld Acclaimed author of What She Saw... and Why She Went Home.
	Terry Ryan Author of the compelling memoir, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio, soon to be a major motion picture from Dreamworks starring Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson.
	Ami Simms Author of several quilting books, including Picture Play Quilts, Creating Scrapbook Quilts, and How NOT to Make a Prize-Winning Quilt. Ami is also the creator of the Worst Quilt in the World_ contest.
	Curtis Sittenfeld The author of the bestselling novel, Prep, Sittenfeld's work has been published in Seventeen, The Mississippi Review, Fast Company, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Salon, and Real Simple, and on public radio's This American Life.
	Heather Skyler Author of The Perfect Age, a debut coming-of-age novel that"perfectly captures the languid heat of long Las Vegas summers and the irresistible temptations of love at any age." (Publishers' Weekly)
	Charles Slack Notable author of nonfiction, including Hetty: The Genius and Madness of America's First Female Tycoon and Blue Fairways: Three Months, Sixty Courses, No Mulligans
	Nicholas Sparks America's favorite chronicler of love stories including the New York Times #1 bestsellers The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, and The Wedding and the memoir Three Weeks With My Brother.
	Helen Squire Celebrated quilting authority and columnist for Lady's Circle Patchwork Quilts and American Quilter magazines and author of seven books on quilting patterns, including Dear Helen, Can You Tell Me?, Helen's Guide to Quilting in the 21st Century, and Create with Helen Squire.
	Timothy Tyson University of Wisconsin professor of African-American studies and author of the acclaimed memoir, Blood Done Sign My Name, a 2005 nominee for the National Book Critics' Circle Award.
	Susan Vreeland The New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Forest Lover, Girl in Hyacinth Blue, The Passion of Artemisia, and the short story collection Life Studies.
	Kate Walbert Critically acclaimed author of The Gardens of Kyoto, Where She Went, and a 2004 National Book Award Finalist for fiction, Our Kind: A Novel in Stories.
	Ayelet Waldman Author of the Mommy-Track Mysteries series, including Nursery Crimes, The Big Nap, Playdate with Death, and Death Gets a Time-Out, and the critically acclaimed novel, Daughter's Keeper.
	Jennifer Weiner The gifted storyteller and beloved author of the New York Times bestselling novels Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, Little Earthquakes, and Goodnight Nobody (Fall 2005).
	Rebecca Wells Author of the bestselling novels Little Altars Everywhere, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, and Ya-Yas in Bloom.

The pattern for "Authors' Album" appears in my third pattern book, More Elm Creek Quilts (C&T Publishing, 2008).

Book(s): The Sugar Camp Quilt, More Elm Creek Quilts

The quilt Dorothea makes from her Uncle Jacob’s sketches, unaware that there is much more to his design than she suspects. The pattern for “Sugar Camp Quilt” appears in my third pattern book, More Elm Creek Quilts (C&T Publishing, 2008).

Book(s): The Runaway Quilt, Elm Creek Quilts

The Log Cabin quilt Sylvia discovers in her attic in The Runaway Quilt. The pattern for “Gerda’s Log Cabin” appears in my first pattern book, Elm Creek Quilts: Quilt Projects Inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts Novels (C&T Publishing, 2002).

Book(s): The Sugar Camp Quilt, More Elm Creek Quilts

In The Sugar Camp Quilt, Constance, a slave in Virginia, saves her mistress’s discarded scraps of fabric. When Abel Wright, a freeman dairy farmer from the Elm Creek Valley, asks her to marry him, she sews the scraps into a beautiful string-pieced star wedding quilt while she awaits the day he can purchase her freedom, placing her trust in Abel’s love and in his vow to bring her to freedom in the North. The pattern for “Constance’s String Pieced Star” appears in my third pattern book, More Elm Creek Quilts (C&T Publishing, 2008).

Machine pieced by Jennifer Chiaverini, machine quilted by Sue Vollbrecht, 2006.

Book(s): The Master Quilter, Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler from Elm Creek Quilts

In The Master Quilter, Sarah and Summer decide to make Sylvia and Andrew a wedding quilt by collecting 6” sampler blocks from Sylvia’s friends, colleagues, and admirers from around the world. Just as Sarah and Summer sought contributions for their quilt, I appealed to my quilting friends for help. Nearly eighty eager volunteers made the 140 blocks using fabrics from my first fabric line, “Elm Creek Quilts: Sylvia’s Collection” from Red Rooster Fabrics. The patterns for all of the blocks from “Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler” are available in my fourth pattern book, Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler from Elm Creek Quilts (C&T Publishing, 2009). Visit the Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler website to see photos of Sylvia’s Bridal Samplers made by quilters from around the world.

Book(s): The Quilter’s Legacy, More Elm Creek Quilts

In The Quilter’s Legacy, Eleanor makes this quilt as a twentieth anniversary gift for her husband, Frederick, as an expression of all that she loved best about the natural beauty of the Bergstrom family estate. The pattern for “Elms and Lilacs” appears in my third pattern book, More Elm Creek Quilts (C&T Publishing, 2008).

Hand appliquéd by June Pease, quilted by Deb Randall, 2003.

Book(s): The Quilter’s Legacy, Return to Elm Creek

In The Quilter’s Legacy, Eleanor’s superstitious mother-in-law believes that sleeping beneath the Ocean Waves quilt would cure one’s illnesses and relieve pain. Eleanor, who chose the pattern to represent the ocean that separated her rom her beloved husband serving overseas in World War I, did not share this belief, although she would occasionally pretend to do so to humor her mother-in-law. The pattern for “Eleanor’s Ocean Waves” appears in my second pattern book, Return to Elm Creek (C&T Publishing, 2004).

Machine pieced by Geraldine Neidenbach and Heather Neidenbach, machine quilted by Sue Vollbrecht, 2003. Harriet Hargraves's "Vintage Indigoes" fabrics used in this quilt were generously donated by P&B Textiles.

Book(s): The Quilter’s Legacy, Return to Elm Creek

One of five quilts Sylvia searches for in The Quilter’s Legacy, this New York Beauty was especially precious because it was her parents’ wedding quilt. The pattern for “New York Beauty” appears in my second pattern book, Return to Elm Creek (C&T Publishing, 2004).

Designed and machine pieced by Jennifer Chiaverini. Quilted by Sue Vollbrecht. 2003.

Book(s): The Runaway Quilt, Elm Creek Quilts

The large Birds in the Air quilt that, according to its owner, has a mysterious connection to Elm Creek Manor. The pattern for “The Runaway Quilt” appears in my first pattern book, Elm Creek Quilts: Quilt Projects Inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts Novels (C&T Publishing, 2002).

Book(s): The Runaway Quilt, Return to Elm Creek

In The Runaway Quilt, Gerda Bergstrom learns to quilt only so that she might participate in the political discussions that occur at the quilting bees hosted by her best friend, Dorothea Granger Nelson. Her inattention and impatience result in a first quilt marred by a conspicuous error. Dorothea laughingly encourages her to pronounce the mistake a Humility block, deliberately included to preserve her quilt from prideful perfection. The pattern for “Gerda’s Shoo-Fly” appears in my second pattern book, Return to Elm Creek (C&T Publishing, 2004).

Machine pieced and quilted by Laura Blanchard using fabrics from "Elm Creek Quilts: Gerda's Collection" from Red Rooster Fabrics, 2003.

Book(s): The Runaway Quilt, Elm Creek Quilts

A strippy scrap quilt Sylvia discovers in her attic in The Runaway Quilt. The pattern for “Underground Railroad” appears in my first pattern book, Elm Creek Quilts: Quilt Projects Inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts Novels (C&T Publishing, 2002).

Sylvia’s mother, Eleanor Lockwood Bergstrom, learns to quilt from her nanny, Amelia Langley. The Crazy Quilt is not a typical choice for a first quilt, but the style was wildly popular at the time.

Machine pieced and embroidered by Jennifer Chiaverini, 2003.

Book(s): The Cross-Country Quilters, Return to Elm Creek

In The Cross-Country Quilters, renowned quilt artist and historian Grace Daniels takes her first steps toward overcoming “quilter’s block” in a photo transfer workshop. She makes a small wall hanging as a birthday gift for her fellow Cross-Country Quilter Vinnie; for my version, I used a photo of my youngest son, Michael. The pattern for “Grace’s Gift” appears in my second pattern book, Return to Elm Creek (C&T Publishing, 2004).

Machine pieced by Jennifer Chiaverini, machine quilted by Sue Vollbrecht, 2003. The "Zachary's Zoo" fabrics used for this quilt were generously donated by Red Rooster Fabrics.

Book(s): The Runaway Quilt, Elm Creek Quilts

A crib quilt Gerda and Joanna make in The Runaway Quilt. The pattern for “Birds in the Air” appears in my first pattern book, Elm Creek Quilts: Quilt Projects Inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts Novels (C&T Publishing, 2002).

Book(s): The Cross-Country Quilters, Return to Elm Creek

In The Cross-Country Quilters, Megan Donohue wins a trip to Elm Creek Quilt Camp in a magazine contest for one-patch designs. The kite template suits Megan, an aerospace engineer, and the Trip Around the World layout symbolizes the literal and figurative journeys she must undertake before she finds solace and love. The pattern for “Megan’s Prizewinner” appears in my second pattern book, Return to Elm Creek (C&T Publishing, 2004).

Machine pieced by Jennifer Chiaverini, machine quilted by Sue Vollbrecht, 2003. The "Annabelle" fabrics used for this quilt were generously donated by Red Rooster Fabrics.

Book(s): The Cross-Country Quilters, Elm Creek Quilts

The quilt Vinnie, Megan, Donna, Julia, and Grace make in The Cross-Country Quilters. The pattern for “Cross-Country Challenge” appears in my first pattern book, Elm Creek Quilts: Quilt Projects Inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts Novels (C&T Publishing, 2002).

Book(s): Round Robin, Elm Creek Quilts

The Elm Creek Quilters make this round robin quilt in my second novel, Round Robin. Agnes appliqued the portrait of Elm Creek Manor in the center, Sarah added the chain of squares border, Diane set the center on point with solid fabric triangles, Bonnie contributed the pinwheel border, Judy added the split Mariner’s Compasses in the corners, and Gwen contributed the crazy patch border. The pattern for “Elm Creek Medallion” appears in my first pattern book, Elm Creek Quilts: Quilt Projects Inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts Novels (C&T Publishing, 2002).

Book(s): The Quilter’s Apprentice, Elm Creek Quilts

The sampler quilt Sylvia teaches Sarah to make in The Quilter’s Apprentice. The pattern for “Sarah’s Sampler” appears in my first pattern book, Elm Creek Quilts: Quilt Projects Inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts Novels (C&T Publishing, 2002).

Book(s): The Quilter’s Apprentice, Return to Elm Creek

In The Quilter’s Apprentice, Sylvia’s lingering regret that she has returned to Elm Creek Manor too late to reconcile with her late sister, Claudia, is tempered by her discovery of a Castle Wall memorial quilt Claudia and their sister-in-law, Agnes, had made from scraps of clothing that had once belonged to Sylvia’s husband, killed in the Second World War. Claudia and Agnes had made the quilt as a loving remembrance for Sylvia, surely assuming that she would return to Elm Creek Manor soon. The pattern for “Castle Wall” appears in my second pattern book, Return to Elm Creek (C&T Publishing, 2004).

I have long admired the elaborate sampler quilt Brenda Papadakis wrote about in her book Dear Jane: The Two Hundred Twenty-Five Patterns from the 1863 Jane A. Stickle Quilt. In November 2003, I began my own Baby Jane quilt using the fabrics from my second Red Rooster Fabrics line, “Gerda’s Collection.”

Author Brenda Papadakis's Dear Jane Website

My first quilt (9/94): A nine-block sampler from a Leisure Arts booklet titled, “Teach Yourself to Quilt.” (If you look carefully, you may be able to detect four, not two, baskets in the block in the upper left corner. As you can see, I had a lot to learn about contrast.) People often ask if I had a teacher like Sylvia Compson, but unfortunately, I only wish I had. I’m a self-taught quilter whose skills have developed thanks to the many wonderful instructional quilting books and magazines out there, as well as the help of my on-line quilting friends from rec.crafts.textiles.quilting.