When precious heirloom quilts hand-stitched by her mother turn up missing from the attic of Elm Creek Manor, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson resolves to find them. From scant resources-journal entries, receipts, and her own fading memories-she pieces together clues, then queries quilting friends from around the world. When dozens of leads arrive via the Internet, Sylvia and her fiance, Andrew, embark on a nationwide investigation of antique shops and quilt museums. Sylvia's quest leads her to unexpected places, where offers of assistance are not always what they seem. As the search continues, revelations surface about her mother, who died when Sylvia was only a child. Burdened with poor health and distant parents, Eleanor Lockwood defies her family by marrying for love. Far from her Manhattan home, she embraces her new life among the Bergstroms-but although warmth and affection surround Eleanor at last, the Bergstroms cannot escape the tragedies of their times. As Sylvia recovers some of the missing quilts and accepts others as lost forever, she reflects on the woman her mother was, and mourns the woman she never knew. For every woman who has yearned to know the untold story of her mother's life, and for every mother who has longed to be heard, THE QUILTER'S LEGACY will resonate with heartfelt honesty as it reveals what tenuous connections bind the generations, and celebrates the love that sustains them.

Third Edition. Antique quilts are both precious and fragile. Thoughtful care can help preserve them for generations to come. This comprehensive book by professional quilt restorer Ann Wasserman offers a wealth of practical information to aid both? collectors hoping? to find professionals to care for their collections, and? quilters and quilt? owners who want instructions they can follow in the home.The discussion begins with guidelines for assessing each quilt's condition. A chart delineates how factors such as appraisal, heirloom, and historical values, and age or vintage, can affect the choices of treatment. Repair of damaged areas can take one of two approaches - "restoration" or "conservation." Step-by-step instructions and illustrations are given for both approaches, including information on appropriate needles, threads, fabrics, and sewing stitches. The techniques presented are applicable to patchwork, appliqué, crazy, whole cloth, and other styles of quilts. Worn fabrics, holes and tears, re-backing, and re-binding are some of the types of damage covered.A chapter on the cleaning of old quilts discusses wet washing, drying, dry cleaning and vacuuming, and compares the relative safety of these methods. Instructions for safe ways to approach cleaning quilts are given.The discussion of quilt storage includes instructions for rolling or folding, and the merits of acid-free supplies. Storage environment is also important, including temperature and humidity levels and insect control.Displaying antique quilts includes instructions for hanging quilts, plus guidelines for lighting, location, and periodic vacuuming.A bibliography, lists of suppliers, conservation labs, appraisers, and restorers are included.

The ninth book in Jennifer Chiaverini's bestselling series—when two of Elm Creek Quilts’ founding members decide to leave the fold, who can possibly take their place in the circle of quilters? When Elm Creek Quilts announces openings for two new teachers, quilters everywhere are vying to land the prestigious post. The impending departure of two founding members means untold changes for the Elm Creek Quilters. As they begin the interview process, a single question emerges: Who can possibly take the place of beloved colleagues and friends? "We must evaluate all of the applicants' qualities," advises Master Quilter Sylvia Compson. "Our choice will say as much about us as it says about who we decide to hire." Who merits a place among the circle of quilters? Will it be Maggie, whose love of history shines through in all her projects; Anna, whose food-themed quilts are wonderfully innovative; Russ, the male quilter with a completely original style; Karen, a novice teacher whose gifts for language complement her deep understanding of the quilters' mission; or Gretchen, the soulful veteran whose craft is inspired by quilting tradition?

The fourth book in the popular Elm Creek Quilts series explores a question that has long captured the imagination of quilters and historians alike: Did stationmasters of the Underground Railroad use quilts to signal to fugitive slaves? In her first novel, The Quilter's Apprentice, Jennifer Chiaverini wove quilting lore with tales from the World War II home front. Now, following Round Robin and The Cross-Country Quilters, Chiaverini revisits the legends of Elm Creek Manor, as Sylvia Compson discovers evidence of her ancestors' courageous involvement in the Underground Railroad. Alerted to the possibility that her family had ties to the slaveholding South, Sylvia scours her attic and finds three quilts and a memoir written by Gerda, the spinster sister of clan patriarch Hans Bergstrom. The memoir describes the founding of Elm Creek Manor and how, using quilts as markers, Hans, his wife, Anneke, and Gerda came to beckon fugitive slaves to safety within its walls. When a runaway named Joanna arrives from a South Carolina plantation pregnant with her master's child, the Bergstroms shelter her through a long, dangerous winter -- imagining neither the impact of her presence nor the betrayal that awaits them. The memoir raises new questions for every one it answers, leading Sylvia ever deeper into the tangle of the Bergstrom legacy. Aided by the Elm Creek Quilters, as well as by descendants of others named in Gerda's tale, Sylvia dares to face the demons of her family's past and at the same time reaffirm her own moral center. A spellbinding fugue on the mysteries of heritage, The Runaway Quilt unfolds with all the drama and suspense of a classic in the making.

Get reacquainted with your favorite characters from the Elm Creek Quilts series while browsing through a dozen brand-new quilts designed by best-selling author Jennifer Chiaverini.

From renowned quilter Jan Shore comes this meaningful tribute to the quilts of America's past. Featuring 13 historical quilt designs from Jan's own personal collection that she has reproduced in today's quilting cottons, each project in Quilting Legacy: 13 Reproduction Designs from a Cherished Collection of Antique Quilts includes step-by-step illustrated instructions, helpful diagrams, complete quilt patterns, and beautiful photography for you to successfully recreate each vintage quilt. Each Civil War-era vintage quilt and historical design includes an interesting back story on the scraps, uniforms, and supplies used and the symbolism and meaning behind each quilt for a sentimental step back in time. A nod to both American history and the history and evolution of quilting, this book is a must-have for dedicated quilters of any skill level.

RESOLVING TO LOCATE HER MOTHER'S HEIRLOOM QUILTS AFTER SO MANY YEARS, SYLVIA COMPSON EMBARKS ON A CROSS-COUNTRY INVESTIGATION. AS SHE SEARCHES, SHE REFLECTS ON THE WOMAN HER MOTHER WAS AND MOURNS THE WOMAN SHE NEVER KNEW.

A beautiful keepsake volume to accompany the beloved New York Times bestselling series Over the course of the bestselling Elm Creek Quilts series, readers have expressed a longing to visit Elm Creek Manor, meet the quilters themselves, and admire their beautiful creations. Jennifer Chiaverini’s An Elm Creek Quilts Companion is the next best thing to a guided tour. Inside, readers will discover a treasure trove of delights, including the Bergstrom family tree, character biographies, quilt block illustrations, full-color photographs of quilts featured in the novels, and “Behind the Scenes at Elm Creek Quilt Camp,” an exclusive short story inspired by questions from real readers. No Elm Creek Quilts fan will want to be without this indispensable guide to the cherished series.

In The Quilter’s Kitchen, Anna Del Maso revisits the kitchens of Elm Creek Manor, past and present. As she records beloved recipes and creates original dishes seasoned with love, she rediscovers how the gifts of the table bring friends and family closer than ever. Anna Del Maso had known that she wanted to be a chef since she was in the seventh grade. “Somehow everything in my life ends up being about food,” she realizes, as she begins the latest of her food-themed quilts. Her twin passions have converged in a brand-new position as head chef for Elm Creek Quilts, Waterford, Pennsylvania’s popular quilting retreat. As she joins the circle of quilters at historic Elm Creek Manor, Anna is eager to preserve the manor’s culinary heritage, dating to 1858, while also celebrating the new favorites of their many guests. Yet as Master Quilter Sylvia Bergstrom Compson well knows, the manor’s kitchen, last updated in the 1940s, can’t create food that compares to the state-of-the-art quilting instruction for which Elm Creek Quilts is renowned. A full renovation of the kitchen must be completed by the start of the new camp season. Though the task is daunting, Anna is assured in her belief that “A kitchen is the heart of a home.” As she and Sylvia begin to dismantle the old to make way for the new, Sylvia’s reminiscences remind them both of just how many of the manor’s traditions have involved food and celebrations. Whether the feast is one of the holiday menus prepared and enjoyed by generations of Bergstroms, or one of the Welcome Banquets and Farewell Breakfasts that have become hallmarks of Elm Creek Quilt Camp, there is a story for every recipe, and a recipe for every story.

Sarah, struggling to find a job and a sense of place in her new town, finds herself learning how to quilt from a cantankerous old woman who also teaches her about the deep love that can exist between friends.