Fans of Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts novels will find much to appreciate in her latest effort, The Winding Ways Quilt. Readers are in store for big changes as this season's quilting camp comes to a close, with longtime member Judy leaving for a great new job and Summer planning to leave for graduate school in Chicago (for real this time). Bonnie is trying to decide how to move forward after her marriage and her quilt shop ended up in shambles, while Gwen prepares for her best friend and her daughter to leave.
And new friends are joining this warm quilting circle, including Anna, the master chef, and Gretchen, the new quilting teacher. All the while group matriarch Sylvia is hard at work on a multipaneled Winding Ways quilt, which beautifully illustrates the comings and goings of members of her quilting family.
Readers who have not read the numerous previous Elm Creek Quilt books would not feel lost if this were the first one they picked up. Though The Winding Ways Quilt is 13th in the series, it focuses largely on the backstory of the quilters, explaining what brought them to quilting and to Elm Creek Quilts, and how their relationships with each other have changed and deepened through the years. There's also an important lesson or two about forgiveness and how to move on, from tragedy or just from change. That these women all happen to be quilters makes this story no less entertaining for people who are not quilters. Women who enjoy any kind of crafts will identify with the passion and enthusiasm Chiaverini's characters have for quilting.
Best-selling author Chiaverini has a loyal following of readers who want to know everything that's happening in the world of the Elm Creek Quilters. She's also designed a line of fabrics based on her novels. Odds are good that this latest Elm Creek adventure will bring Chiaverini even more devoted readers who can't wait to find out what happens next.
Sarah E. White is a freelance writer and knitter who lives in Arkansas.
