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Elm Creek Quilts #3
The Cross-Country Quilters
Readers of The Quilter's Apprentice and Round Robin have been enchanted by Elm Creek Quilt Camp, where women gather each year for quilting, friendship, and fun. 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.
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.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Jennifer Chiaverini
82 books5,405 followersJennifer Chiaverini is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-three novels, including acclaimed historical fiction and the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series. She has also written seven quilt pattern books inspired by her novels. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, she lives with her husband and two sons in Madison, Wisconsin. About her historical fiction, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes, "In addition to simply being fascinating stories, these novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 595 reviews
January 1, 2008
Judy keeps buying them, I keep reading them. And every time I pick one of the Elm Creek Quilt books up, I think, "Damn this is kind of elementary" and then wind up thinking, "Damn, this one was better than the last."
This is the third in the series, and the third I've read, and my favorite one thus far. Five women meet at Elm Creek Quilt Camp and become quick friends. They decide to reunite in one year's time and in that time, they have to complete a block for a quilt after solving an issue confronting them in their life. Vinnie wants to see her grandson married. Megan wants to see a breakthrough with her young son who is hurting after his parents' acrimonious divorce and his father's refusal to acknowledge him any more. Donna wants to help her brilliant oldest daughter avoid a marriage she and her family are convinced is a huge mistake. Juilia must learn to quilt to save her fading career as an actress in Hollywood. And Grace is facing down a terrifying illness.
The first half of the book sets up the women's meeting and the issues each of them faces, while the latter half deals with the resolution and subsequent trip back to Elm Creek Quilt Camp to complete their quilt. I loved this book. Now, I freely admit, it all wrapped up quite tidily and neatly at the end (for instance, Julia is an actress and one of the women's children is a theater major--see any possibilities there for assistance?). And every time I read them, I think, "Oh no, this is totally predictable" and when the totally predictable ending comes, I'm so freaking happy that everything works out well in the end, that I almost hate myself for it. But I guess that the happy ending counts for something, and as long as Jennifer Chiaverinni doles them out, I'll take them. Not many authors will I say that about.
This is the third in the series, and the third I've read, and my favorite one thus far. Five women meet at Elm Creek Quilt Camp and become quick friends. They decide to reunite in one year's time and in that time, they have to complete a block for a quilt after solving an issue confronting them in their life. Vinnie wants to see her grandson married. Megan wants to see a breakthrough with her young son who is hurting after his parents' acrimonious divorce and his father's refusal to acknowledge him any more. Donna wants to help her brilliant oldest daughter avoid a marriage she and her family are convinced is a huge mistake. Juilia must learn to quilt to save her fading career as an actress in Hollywood. And Grace is facing down a terrifying illness.
The first half of the book sets up the women's meeting and the issues each of them faces, while the latter half deals with the resolution and subsequent trip back to Elm Creek Quilt Camp to complete their quilt. I loved this book. Now, I freely admit, it all wrapped up quite tidily and neatly at the end (for instance, Julia is an actress and one of the women's children is a theater major--see any possibilities there for assistance?). And every time I read them, I think, "Oh no, this is totally predictable" and when the totally predictable ending comes, I'm so freaking happy that everything works out well in the end, that I almost hate myself for it. But I guess that the happy ending counts for something, and as long as Jennifer Chiaverinni doles them out, I'll take them. Not many authors will I say that about.
August 1, 2009
After reading the first four books in the Elm Creek Quilts series, I am actually thinking it would be fun to learn how to quilt. Blending quilting techniques with a heart-warming story of friendship, this is a perfect book to enjoy on a warm summer day.
This book focuses on a group of women who meet at Elm Creek's quilt camp. Two women, Megan and Donna, are Internet friends who look forward to meeting each other in real life. Megan, a divorced woman with a sweet but somewhat troubled son, is a successful rocket engineer. Donna is the mother of two daughters and is very concerned about her oldest daughter's upcoming marriage. We also get to know Grace, a very successful famous quilter who harbors a health secret, Julia, an actress who is sent to quilt camp to learn how to quilt for an upcoming movie role, and Vinnie, an eighty-something year old who is full of life.
What I enjoyed most about this book is how these women become friends and then support each other as they return to their various homes as they face real life. Before departing Elm Creek Manor, they each take on a quilting challenge and agree to meet the following year. I hope we get to see more of these delightful characters in future Elm Creek quilter books!
This book focuses on a group of women who meet at Elm Creek's quilt camp. Two women, Megan and Donna, are Internet friends who look forward to meeting each other in real life. Megan, a divorced woman with a sweet but somewhat troubled son, is a successful rocket engineer. Donna is the mother of two daughters and is very concerned about her oldest daughter's upcoming marriage. We also get to know Grace, a very successful famous quilter who harbors a health secret, Julia, an actress who is sent to quilt camp to learn how to quilt for an upcoming movie role, and Vinnie, an eighty-something year old who is full of life.
What I enjoyed most about this book is how these women become friends and then support each other as they return to their various homes as they face real life. Before departing Elm Creek Manor, they each take on a quilting challenge and agree to meet the following year. I hope we get to see more of these delightful characters in future Elm Creek quilter books!
February 4, 2021
This connects two of my addictions, reading and quilting, and requires very little from me as a reader - just like a movie one watches to purely distract and enjoy. Book candy, this is. It hit the spot it needed to this week. I'll continue on with this series.
If you have similar interests, you'll settle into this one nicely. Focus is on a number of women who have attended a quilting retreat at the Elm Creek Quilt center, and they have bonded. Having attended so many of these retreats, I know the truth of it and that is what is most appealing - people who would never have met another way have the opportunity to learn together from their various walks of life, all kinds of folks, and at varying skill levels. But when a new technique, tool or trend is being presented and taught, everyone starts from scratch in most ways. In this book, the bonded women create a sub-group and make promises to meet again and stay connected. The reader gets peeks into each other lives and struggles, and ultimately an idea of how they turn out. Book candy! A nice tension releaser.
Crunch, crunch, crunch. (That's the pop corn disappearing.)
If you have similar interests, you'll settle into this one nicely. Focus is on a number of women who have attended a quilting retreat at the Elm Creek Quilt center, and they have bonded. Having attended so many of these retreats, I know the truth of it and that is what is most appealing - people who would never have met another way have the opportunity to learn together from their various walks of life, all kinds of folks, and at varying skill levels. But when a new technique, tool or trend is being presented and taught, everyone starts from scratch in most ways. In this book, the bonded women create a sub-group and make promises to meet again and stay connected. The reader gets peeks into each other lives and struggles, and ultimately an idea of how they turn out. Book candy! A nice tension releaser.
Crunch, crunch, crunch. (That's the pop corn disappearing.)
February 23, 2010
We didn't think these books about quilters would be so good, but my husband (who is not a quilter) and I really like them. He read the first one and said it was surprisingly good. Then he read the 2nd one, and said, I'm not sure I can get through the rest of these (meaning the series). When he picked up the 3rd one, he was just going to skim it, but he said, "The author is such a good writer. I just got sucked into the characters and their stories". He read it all the way through. I, of course, like them all...the quilting and the women are all good.
September 22, 2016
Should not have read 3 in a row. Now overstuffed on sweetness & cheese!
July 30, 2020
Great series,onto the next...
January 27, 2021
They all laughed, and Donna felt her spirits rising. For the first time, she felt that even though they would be scattered cross-country, they would remain close friends.
"Cross-country," she murmured, then added in a louder voice, "That's what we are, the Cross-Country Quilters."
"A name make it official," Vinnie declared. "How can we fail?"
August 21, 2025
3.5 Stars
May 10, 2008
ok, i was STILL on semi-rest yesterday, so got another novel knocked out. this one was even better than her other's that i've read. of course, it MAY be because i could relate to a few of the characters even better than any others! especially Grace!! no, i do NOT have MS, but ... i do have 2 "conditions" that i'll have for the rest of my life, 1 of which will most likely land me in a wheelchair eventually. i am as independent as her, if not more so, and can DEFINITELY understand what somewhat of what she was feeling and going thru. anyway ...
once more, i not only love all the quilting background, but REALLY loved how almost complete strangers, of such varied backgrounds, came together to not only become friends, but life-long sisters! they supported each other like no one else could, nor would. just the way the world OUGHT to be, but unfortunately, VERY rarely is!
i will admit, i DO have a few people in my life like that. BUT ... i'm greedy, and wish i had a few more!
well, today is a hectic day, (one reason why i had to rest up the last 1.5 days!), BUT ... you CAN be assured, i'll be winding it back down w/ the next book in this series!!! while THIS one moves over to my oldest daughter's pile to read
once more, i not only love all the quilting background, but REALLY loved how almost complete strangers, of such varied backgrounds, came together to not only become friends, but life-long sisters! they supported each other like no one else could, nor would. just the way the world OUGHT to be, but unfortunately, VERY rarely is!
i will admit, i DO have a few people in my life like that. BUT ... i'm greedy, and wish i had a few more!
well, today is a hectic day, (one reason why i had to rest up the last 1.5 days!), BUT ... you CAN be assured, i'll be winding it back down w/ the next book in this series!!! while THIS one moves over to my oldest daughter's pile to read
July 13, 2019
I totally enjoyed this book. First of all, I am a quilter, so I love that aspect of these books. It's been a learning experience reading about the various quilt patterns and other techniques. I also liked the new characters in this book. They were all realistic, and had to deal with problems in their personal lives that included mother/daughter relationships, husband/wife problems, standing up for our rights and community involvement to mention a few. These were problems similar to those most people experience. The character, Julia, gave me an insight into the movie business, and enlightened me about background conflicts that could occur in that business. Overall, this book was entertaining, informative, and educational.
February 16, 2023
Another fun installment in the Elm Creek Quilts series. I just love how this hobby brings together a group of ladies and the friendships develop. The camp brings together Donna and Megan who met online. Then we have a famous quilter Grace, who has a secret. Julia, a famous actress who was sent to this camp for research on an upcoming movie. We also have Vinnie, an 80-something feisty quilter. They all accept a quilting challenge that enables them to keep in contact after the camp in which their individual stories play out.
June 1, 2025
I really like the small town feel of the books in this series. Women who support one another no matter what difficulties they have in their lives. And the communal love of quilting is cute.
February 10, 2024
I am enjoying reading through this series but found the third book to be less enjoyable than the first two. The story focuses on five women who are guests at a quilt camp and their year following the week of camp. Each has some sort of challenge to overcome in that year.
For the most part I could appreciate the five different life challenges. Divorce, parenting children and adult children, illness, and career struggles are all realistic issues people face each day. I felt that the characters were perhaps a little dense at times, one of those situations when you roll your eyes because they can’t see the obvious, but it is still worth reading the story. There are some over-used social themes which were a bit heavy handed, in my opinion, and not really necessary for a story like this. I’m hopeful that the other books in the series will be entertaining without trying to push some sort of agenda. I don’t pick up a novel about quilting and quilters to be reminded of the social issues which are constantly being thrown at me. We’ll see….
For the most part I could appreciate the five different life challenges. Divorce, parenting children and adult children, illness, and career struggles are all realistic issues people face each day. I felt that the characters were perhaps a little dense at times, one of those situations when you roll your eyes because they can’t see the obvious, but it is still worth reading the story. There are some over-used social themes which were a bit heavy handed, in my opinion, and not really necessary for a story like this. I’m hopeful that the other books in the series will be entertaining without trying to push some sort of agenda. I don’t pick up a novel about quilting and quilters to be reminded of the social issues which are constantly being thrown at me. We’ll see….
July 16, 2025
This book is number 3 in the Elm Creek Quilt series. I really enjoyed getting to know the ladies in this story.
I'm looking forward to reading ( or listening ) to the rest of this series.
I listened to this book on audio.
I'm looking forward to reading ( or listening ) to the rest of this series.
I listened to this book on audio.
July 31, 2024
I really enjoyed this story. Was a cozy summer read.
December 18, 2024
I can do hard things! Trust your feelings. Those are two of the things I learned from this book.
December 29, 2025
Book 3 of the series
Good listen
Characters flowed throughout the book.
Onto book 4
Good listen
Characters flowed throughout the book.
Onto book 4
March 22, 2018
Как мило и волнительно!
March 28, 2026
Another 3.5-4 rating. 3rd book in the series - story lines and character development are getting better. It's fun to see characters return and meet new ones along the way.
June 15, 2024
I am really enjoying this series only have 19 more to go. We met some new characters in this book 3, I am hoping maybe they will show up in later books once again.....
August 3, 2024
I am really enjoying this series. While some of the characters remain constant, each book introduces new situations and characters. All, of course, love to quilt and Elm Creek Quilts is the venue where they first meet. Jennifer Chiaverini writes with insight on the diverse challenges of women, and how these women in particular form an unusual bond, in spite of their varied ages and lifestyles. I can't wait to read the next in the series!
December 21, 2020
Lovely story about friends connected through quilting. Makes me wish I quilted.
January 26, 2011
The third installment in this series, Cross Country Quilters diverges from telling the tale of the ladies of Elm Creek Quilts, to telling the story of the quilt campers that come to visit. The original characters only make brief appearances but as a recap (and possible spoiler for the first two books) I'll tell a bit about them.
In the first book, Sarah, a young woman who moved with her husband is desperately looking for a job. When she meets a client of her husband's, the moody Sylvia, she at first doesn't like her. However, after being offered a job with the condition that learning to quilt will be a part of her paycheck, she grows to love Sylvia and the Elm Creek manor, and together they try to find a way to return it to its old glory.
The second book continues on with the business they develop and the troubles in their daily lives. Together, with friendship and a Round Robin quilt they are able to help each other and overcome their obstacles.
This book, as stated before, is about their guests. All there for vastly different reasons, a group of women form a unique friendship and promise to work on a Challenge quilt to put together the next year they go to quilter's camp. But part of this challenge is they have to face the challenges in their own life before making their square.
Donna, a mother to two young ladies has to deal that her daughter may be in a not healthy relationship. Originally outgoing her daughter seems to be giving everything up for her fiance. When things start to go worse and worse she begins to fear the worst and think her daughter's entered into an abusive relationship she can't handle.
Megan, a young single mother, is troubled by the problems her son is having at school and the lack of contact with his father. When she meets charming Adam, the grandson of one of the other cross-country quilter's she's scared to let herself fall for him and be heartbroken again. Not to mention she doesn't want to put her son through that as well to be betrayed a second time.
Vinnie, a sprightly grandmother, has the challenge of making her grandson Adam forget his ex-fiance who so carelessly broke his heart and find true love again. Being the matchmaker she has her eye's set on Megan as being a perfect way for that to happen.
Julia is an aging actress that is preparing for her next role in a movie that has to do with quilting. Not knowing how to quilt herself she came to the camp to learn. Now she wants to get through this movie without being replaced by younger actresses. She does a lot of growing in this novel and is a good reminder that age does not always equal maturity.
Grace, a respected quilter in her own right, is dealing with not having inspiration to quilt anymore and her secret. Her secret actually turned out to be something close to my heart and I was really able to care about her as a character. At the risk of spoiling this for others I do have to share what that secret is. Grace has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. At first she finds it unbearable to live with and doesn't want anyone to know as she doesn't want their pity. She also mourns the loss of her skills as a sewer and quilter and fears that she will never be the same again or even happy. However, she learns to grow and while she may not be able to do what she once did, she can learn other ways to be happy and to enjoy her craft. You see, my father was recently diagnosed with MS and I see him in the early Grace of this book; very downtrodden and heartbroken at what life has handed to him. However, this book has given me hope that he too will work his way through this, and if not be able to do what he used to, at least be happy again. If I thought I could get him to read a book about quilting I would have him read this book in a heartbeat. It made the book very important to me.
The language of this book, like most of what I've read of Chiaverini's is in the third person. She writes extremely well and descriptive and you can see the colors of the quilts in her words. She also has an unbelievable knack of making you care for her characters. This isn't the only book of her's that I've teared up a bit at. One important thing to note however is that this book is more story than quilting instruction. Like the 2nd book this one is a novel and not a combination of quilting lore/story.
A lovely story with deeply moving moments I will definitely treasure this book. I can't wait to read the next one in this wonderful series!
The Cross Country Quilters
Copyright 2001
278 pages
In the first book, Sarah, a young woman who moved with her husband is desperately looking for a job. When she meets a client of her husband's, the moody Sylvia, she at first doesn't like her. However, after being offered a job with the condition that learning to quilt will be a part of her paycheck, she grows to love Sylvia and the Elm Creek manor, and together they try to find a way to return it to its old glory.
The second book continues on with the business they develop and the troubles in their daily lives. Together, with friendship and a Round Robin quilt they are able to help each other and overcome their obstacles.
This book, as stated before, is about their guests. All there for vastly different reasons, a group of women form a unique friendship and promise to work on a Challenge quilt to put together the next year they go to quilter's camp. But part of this challenge is they have to face the challenges in their own life before making their square.
Donna, a mother to two young ladies has to deal that her daughter may be in a not healthy relationship. Originally outgoing her daughter seems to be giving everything up for her fiance. When things start to go worse and worse she begins to fear the worst and think her daughter's entered into an abusive relationship she can't handle.
Megan, a young single mother, is troubled by the problems her son is having at school and the lack of contact with his father. When she meets charming Adam, the grandson of one of the other cross-country quilter's she's scared to let herself fall for him and be heartbroken again. Not to mention she doesn't want to put her son through that as well to be betrayed a second time.
Vinnie, a sprightly grandmother, has the challenge of making her grandson Adam forget his ex-fiance who so carelessly broke his heart and find true love again. Being the matchmaker she has her eye's set on Megan as being a perfect way for that to happen.
Julia is an aging actress that is preparing for her next role in a movie that has to do with quilting. Not knowing how to quilt herself she came to the camp to learn. Now she wants to get through this movie without being replaced by younger actresses. She does a lot of growing in this novel and is a good reminder that age does not always equal maturity.
Grace, a respected quilter in her own right, is dealing with not having inspiration to quilt anymore and her secret. Her secret actually turned out to be something close to my heart and I was really able to care about her as a character. At the risk of spoiling this for others I do have to share what that secret is. Grace has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. At first she finds it unbearable to live with and doesn't want anyone to know as she doesn't want their pity. She also mourns the loss of her skills as a sewer and quilter and fears that she will never be the same again or even happy. However, she learns to grow and while she may not be able to do what she once did, she can learn other ways to be happy and to enjoy her craft. You see, my father was recently diagnosed with MS and I see him in the early Grace of this book; very downtrodden and heartbroken at what life has handed to him. However, this book has given me hope that he too will work his way through this, and if not be able to do what he used to, at least be happy again. If I thought I could get him to read a book about quilting I would have him read this book in a heartbeat. It made the book very important to me.
The language of this book, like most of what I've read of Chiaverini's is in the third person. She writes extremely well and descriptive and you can see the colors of the quilts in her words. She also has an unbelievable knack of making you care for her characters. This isn't the only book of her's that I've teared up a bit at. One important thing to note however is that this book is more story than quilting instruction. Like the 2nd book this one is a novel and not a combination of quilting lore/story.
A lovely story with deeply moving moments I will definitely treasure this book. I can't wait to read the next one in this wonderful series!
The Cross Country Quilters
Copyright 2001
278 pages
February 14, 2016
THE CROSS COUNTRY QUILTERS by JENNIFER CHIAVERINI
4 stars
I've challenged myself to go back and fill in the gaps in the Elm Creek Quilts series. I have finished #3 today and found it to be just as cozy and emotional as the others I've read. I guess I'm just going to have to admit that I have a weak side for groups of women coming together to do needlework sorts of things. I've always wanted to quilt, have tried and failed miserably but every time I read one of these novels I think...maybe I could try again. Anyway--in this particular adventure, an aging actress, Julia, has been offered a part in a new movie based on the life of a pioneer woman, who turns quilting into a money making venture after her husband dies and leaves her and their children alone. Julia has never quilted in her life and her agent gets her a spot in one of the week long quilting camps at Elm Creek Manor. Hoping to remain low profile lasts a little longer than a day but soon she is accepting help from some of the more experienced women at the camp and, against all odds, making friends. Each of the 5 women are battling some type of problem back at home that is causing them concern. At the end of this week, Julia and the 4 women she has befriended, vow to go home and as soon as they can come up with some plan to correct what is going wrong in their lives, start a quilt block that represents the problem and its solution. When they all meet at camp the next year, they will put their blocks together to form a beautiful new quilt--the Cross Country Quilt. Just a quick, cozy read that was so enjoyable and if you know how to quilt, it would be even better. My favorite part is when they met at the Quilt Show in Paducah, Kentucky because I've been there several times and I could picture it all so clearly.
4 stars
I've challenged myself to go back and fill in the gaps in the Elm Creek Quilts series. I have finished #3 today and found it to be just as cozy and emotional as the others I've read. I guess I'm just going to have to admit that I have a weak side for groups of women coming together to do needlework sorts of things. I've always wanted to quilt, have tried and failed miserably but every time I read one of these novels I think...maybe I could try again. Anyway--in this particular adventure, an aging actress, Julia, has been offered a part in a new movie based on the life of a pioneer woman, who turns quilting into a money making venture after her husband dies and leaves her and their children alone. Julia has never quilted in her life and her agent gets her a spot in one of the week long quilting camps at Elm Creek Manor. Hoping to remain low profile lasts a little longer than a day but soon she is accepting help from some of the more experienced women at the camp and, against all odds, making friends. Each of the 5 women are battling some type of problem back at home that is causing them concern. At the end of this week, Julia and the 4 women she has befriended, vow to go home and as soon as they can come up with some plan to correct what is going wrong in their lives, start a quilt block that represents the problem and its solution. When they all meet at camp the next year, they will put their blocks together to form a beautiful new quilt--the Cross Country Quilt. Just a quick, cozy read that was so enjoyable and if you know how to quilt, it would be even better. My favorite part is when they met at the Quilt Show in Paducah, Kentucky because I've been there several times and I could picture it all so clearly.
January 30, 2024
The third book! This is such a cozy series that keeps pulling me back. I'd say it's the quintessential 'gentle read.' I love that all of the books in this series have the same feel so far. I really feel that I'm going right back into the Elm Creek Quilt 'world.' I wish such a quilt camp retreat existed and I could go find some lifelong hobby friends.
The last story, we got a peek into the lives of the Elm Creek Quilter founding members, and this time we get to look at 5 of the campers who went to Elm Creek during the same summer and decided to complete a challenge quilt together. I was surprised that by the time about a third way through the book, their week at quilt camp was over. For some reason I anticipated that the book would encompass their time together, but then the women resolve to work on a challenge quilt in the year they spent apart and then quilt it all together when they meet again-- it reminded me of the way the Round Robin book happened. There was more of an epistolary element to this book because the quilters were corresponding by email and snail mail for most of the year.
So, the characters--
Julia is a TV star who is trying to learn to quilt to get a movie role, then the movie goes from being a period drama about quilting to some action-prairie-trash film, and she's really upset that the story was being destroyed. Eventually she stands up for the story and quits the film, and the movie ends up flopping-- that was super satisfying, to see that rotten director put in his place. One thing that was weird about Julia's character was that she seemed so shy interpersonally-- which is strange, considering she's been famous for decades. It was also kind of tone-deaf when I reached that passage where Julia was feeling that all her work was worthless because she never had a child...? That was really tacky and a sort-of, 'have kids or you'll regret it' admonishment to any childless woman reading the book-- it was obviously the author injecting her own worldview that only women who have kids leave a lasting impact on the world and that anythng you try to accomplish n your own will be forgotten after you die.... Also, there was this weird throwaway line that Julia had outed addicts to the press to screw over her rivals??? Screw her for that! But it was very satisfying to see her moment of solidarity with Ellen, walking out of that film production meeting and letting the movie fail.
Then we've got Grace-- it was quite a twist that she was pissed that her daughter was 'secretly' dating an older man, then it turned out to be the father who abandoned them like 30 years ago to go be an alcoholic living on the streets. The daughter taking the father back in was a huge betrayal. Why is it so common for children to long for the parent who left rather than stand by the parent who stayed and actually cared for and loved them? It's such a slap in the face for Justine's dad to come back to 'get to know' his daughter and grandson 30 years too late. Like no dude, you don't get to come back and be a dad now that the job is already done. Grace already did everything for you!
Donna-- Oh my god, her story had me SO on her side. She was one of the few sensible parents in this series so far. Insisting that her daughter finish college-- her daughter was being so insanely dumb, quitting college to get married at 20 because the boy wants her to be chained to the stove and trapped in their apartment? Shocker, turned out he was abusive, he beat her, and it was SO satisfying to see that Donna and Becca immediately came to rescue her and ultimately helped Lindsey get her confidence back and the courage to leave. I'm so glad she didn't go back.
Then we have Megan, with her son Robbie, the lyingest-liar who ever lied. I knew kids like this when I was little, constantly lying about stupid shit to try to impress other kids. INSANELY dumb things that were obviously untrue. I knew a neighbor kid who lied and said his last name was Speedracer, stupid shit that could be verified as untrue with one or two questions. Another girl in highschool made up an elaborate story about how she had a brother who died in the army and then cried at school on his 'death day' to make everyone feel bad for her, she had fake self-harm scars and said her dad ripped out her lip piercing and that she had a boyfriend 'at another school'-- everything turned out to be fake and she lost all her friends. I don't know why people do this-- it's infuriating but it's really sad when you think about where it comes from, insecurity and feeling unloved. Robbie was exactly like this, it was so infuriating, especially the scene where he told his mom he hates her? Like BOY????? Your mother is the one who stayed and cared for you, your dad isn't worth shit and named his new kid the same name as you. He doesn't love you. Stop being mean to your mom, wtf.
Vinnie-- her backstory was so sad. What struck me from the beginning when we saw her childhood was that her mother died, and then her father cuts off all her hair. And when she starts to cry bc she's being teased at school for having a buzzcut in the 1930s, her dad goes, 'your mom is dead and you're crying about your /hair./' Like. YEAH DUDE, HER MOM JUST DIED AND YOU CUT OFF HER HAIR AND MADE HER A LAUGHING STOCK AT SCHOOL, YOU LITERALLY MADE HER LIFE WORSE AND ARE NOW TRYING TO MAKE HER GUILTY FOR BEING UPSET AT YOUR ABUSE. And then he fucking ships her off to live with her aunt and never visits or calls for 10 years. Only the girl was sent away, I noticed. He kept his son. What a disgrace. God, what terrible parents seem to choke out these books! But then again, the /found family/ aspect of these books is what keeps me coming back. Vinnie's adopted mothers were wonderful. There was a lot of subtext that they were a lesbian couple, which I was surprised to see. A 1930s lesbian couple with an adopted daughter even suggested in a book written in the 00s? Wow!
I liked the Sylvia cameo at the Quilter Convention. The ending of the book was really sweet, Adam and Megan got their happy ending, and that horrible movie director got what was coming to him. Lindsey came alive again and left behind that woman-beating jerk.
Can't wait to start the next book!
The last story, we got a peek into the lives of the Elm Creek Quilter founding members, and this time we get to look at 5 of the campers who went to Elm Creek during the same summer and decided to complete a challenge quilt together. I was surprised that by the time about a third way through the book, their week at quilt camp was over. For some reason I anticipated that the book would encompass their time together, but then the women resolve to work on a challenge quilt in the year they spent apart and then quilt it all together when they meet again-- it reminded me of the way the Round Robin book happened. There was more of an epistolary element to this book because the quilters were corresponding by email and snail mail for most of the year.
So, the characters--
Julia is a TV star who is trying to learn to quilt to get a movie role, then the movie goes from being a period drama about quilting to some action-prairie-trash film, and she's really upset that the story was being destroyed. Eventually she stands up for the story and quits the film, and the movie ends up flopping-- that was super satisfying, to see that rotten director put in his place. One thing that was weird about Julia's character was that she seemed so shy interpersonally-- which is strange, considering she's been famous for decades. It was also kind of tone-deaf when I reached that passage where Julia was feeling that all her work was worthless because she never had a child...? That was really tacky and a sort-of, 'have kids or you'll regret it' admonishment to any childless woman reading the book-- it was obviously the author injecting her own worldview that only women who have kids leave a lasting impact on the world and that anythng you try to accomplish n your own will be forgotten after you die.... Also, there was this weird throwaway line that Julia had outed addicts to the press to screw over her rivals??? Screw her for that! But it was very satisfying to see her moment of solidarity with Ellen, walking out of that film production meeting and letting the movie fail.
Then we've got Grace-- it was quite a twist that she was pissed that her daughter was 'secretly' dating an older man, then it turned out to be the father who abandoned them like 30 years ago to go be an alcoholic living on the streets. The daughter taking the father back in was a huge betrayal. Why is it so common for children to long for the parent who left rather than stand by the parent who stayed and actually cared for and loved them? It's such a slap in the face for Justine's dad to come back to 'get to know' his daughter and grandson 30 years too late. Like no dude, you don't get to come back and be a dad now that the job is already done. Grace already did everything for you!
Donna-- Oh my god, her story had me SO on her side. She was one of the few sensible parents in this series so far. Insisting that her daughter finish college-- her daughter was being so insanely dumb, quitting college to get married at 20 because the boy wants her to be chained to the stove and trapped in their apartment? Shocker, turned out he was abusive, he beat her, and it was SO satisfying to see that Donna and Becca immediately came to rescue her and ultimately helped Lindsey get her confidence back and the courage to leave. I'm so glad she didn't go back.
Then we have Megan, with her son Robbie, the lyingest-liar who ever lied. I knew kids like this when I was little, constantly lying about stupid shit to try to impress other kids. INSANELY dumb things that were obviously untrue. I knew a neighbor kid who lied and said his last name was Speedracer, stupid shit that could be verified as untrue with one or two questions. Another girl in highschool made up an elaborate story about how she had a brother who died in the army and then cried at school on his 'death day' to make everyone feel bad for her, she had fake self-harm scars and said her dad ripped out her lip piercing and that she had a boyfriend 'at another school'-- everything turned out to be fake and she lost all her friends. I don't know why people do this-- it's infuriating but it's really sad when you think about where it comes from, insecurity and feeling unloved. Robbie was exactly like this, it was so infuriating, especially the scene where he told his mom he hates her? Like BOY????? Your mother is the one who stayed and cared for you, your dad isn't worth shit and named his new kid the same name as you. He doesn't love you. Stop being mean to your mom, wtf.
Vinnie-- her backstory was so sad. What struck me from the beginning when we saw her childhood was that her mother died, and then her father cuts off all her hair. And when she starts to cry bc she's being teased at school for having a buzzcut in the 1930s, her dad goes, 'your mom is dead and you're crying about your /hair./' Like. YEAH DUDE, HER MOM JUST DIED AND YOU CUT OFF HER HAIR AND MADE HER A LAUGHING STOCK AT SCHOOL, YOU LITERALLY MADE HER LIFE WORSE AND ARE NOW TRYING TO MAKE HER GUILTY FOR BEING UPSET AT YOUR ABUSE. And then he fucking ships her off to live with her aunt and never visits or calls for 10 years. Only the girl was sent away, I noticed. He kept his son. What a disgrace. God, what terrible parents seem to choke out these books! But then again, the /found family/ aspect of these books is what keeps me coming back. Vinnie's adopted mothers were wonderful. There was a lot of subtext that they were a lesbian couple, which I was surprised to see. A 1930s lesbian couple with an adopted daughter even suggested in a book written in the 00s? Wow!
I liked the Sylvia cameo at the Quilter Convention. The ending of the book was really sweet, Adam and Megan got their happy ending, and that horrible movie director got what was coming to him. Lindsey came alive again and left behind that woman-beating jerk.
Can't wait to start the next book!
January 18, 2009
This is the third novel in the "Elm Creek Quilts Sampler." These novels make up the first three books in this series. In this particular book, we don't hear much about the Elm Creek Quilters Staff after the new characters depart the camp. It's more about these newly-introduced folks here and their families and others in their lives. It's about match-making and divorced couples and how divorce affects not only the couple but others in their lives as well.
There's Julia, the aging actress; Megan, Donna, Grace, and Vinnie - all part of this "new" group of quilters at the Manor. Getting to know them. After this quilting group is finished for the week, they stay in touch and we get to learn about their lives.
I am interested in knowing what's going on with Donna's elder daughter and her fiance. She's pulling away from Donna and the rest of the family. Is he leading her away or is it something simple as busyness?
We learn of the hardships of the acting world through Julia and get to meet Ellen, the writer of the story that's being made into a movie -- the one Julia is now working on. We learn how people treat each other in this environment.
There's Julia, the aging actress; Megan, Donna, Grace, and Vinnie - all part of this "new" group of quilters at the Manor. Getting to know them. After this quilting group is finished for the week, they stay in touch and we get to learn about their lives.
I am interested in knowing what's going on with Donna's elder daughter and her fiance. She's pulling away from Donna and the rest of the family. Is he leading her away or is it something simple as busyness?
We learn of the hardships of the acting world through Julia and get to meet Ellen, the writer of the story that's being made into a movie -- the one Julia is now working on. We learn how people treat each other in this environment.
October 27, 2011
This book introduces the "Cross Country Quilters". This is a group of friends who live everywhere and were brought together at Elm Creek Manor. They pledged to make a "challenge quilt"; symbolic of each woman's personal goals. The quilt was to be done in one year's time when they would meet again at Elm Creek.
Julia, an aging starlet, needed to learn to quilt for a historic movie and was sent to Elm Creek by her manager as the director already thinks she can quilt. Megan, a successful engineer, has won awards for her qult designs. Donna, a mother of 2, wants to teach her daughter about self-esteem and independence. Grace is a curator of antique quilts but her creative flair is waning for reasons she doesn't want anyone to know about. Then there is Vinnie, the senior member of this group, who wants to bring happiness to the people she loves. These five ladies will show you how much they mean to one another throughout this book.
A great read.
Julia, an aging starlet, needed to learn to quilt for a historic movie and was sent to Elm Creek by her manager as the director already thinks she can quilt. Megan, a successful engineer, has won awards for her qult designs. Donna, a mother of 2, wants to teach her daughter about self-esteem and independence. Grace is a curator of antique quilts but her creative flair is waning for reasons she doesn't want anyone to know about. Then there is Vinnie, the senior member of this group, who wants to bring happiness to the people she loves. These five ladies will show you how much they mean to one another throughout this book.
A great read.
March 7, 2018
I hadn’t read an Elm Creek Quilts book in forever. Back when I was quilting, I devoured this series one after another.... so I figured I’d pick one up and give it a whirl once again.
It was good! Nothing bad to say about, but nothing tremendous either. I felt it to be a rather monotonous read except for one singular part dealing with Donna and Lindsey. I love the friendship that grew from such diverse women, and the power it had to help each of them through troubling times in their lives. The common thread? Their shared piece of fabric that would become an individual challenge square depicting their current circumstances. Each as different as its maker, but combined into a shared work of art.
It was good! Nothing bad to say about, but nothing tremendous either. I felt it to be a rather monotonous read except for one singular part dealing with Donna and Lindsey. I love the friendship that grew from such diverse women, and the power it had to help each of them through troubling times in their lives. The common thread? Their shared piece of fabric that would become an individual challenge square depicting their current circumstances. Each as different as its maker, but combined into a shared work of art.
May 10, 2022
I enjoy the Elm Creek Quilts series--some more than others. Cross-Country was kind of dull since the characters spent most of the story away from the camp, dealing with their tumultuous home lives. I much prefer the books that are about the main characters who work/live at Elm Creek. Plus, if you don't like stories with kids (from youngsters to young adults) this book will drive you nuts, as it did me, as the "campers" dealt with their kids' problems. Glad I read the book, but I want more Sylvia!
June 30, 2025
I was a little bothered when I first picked this up, since it wasn't going to be the same set of characters. But I need not have worried. Chiaverini does a great job of bringing in a whole new set of characters to love as much as those from the first two books (and they do make some guest appearances).
I did have a hard time separating some of the characters at first, but other than that really enjoyed the book.
I did have a hard time separating some of the characters at first, but other than that really enjoyed the book.
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