Master quilter Sylvia Compson discovers a stash of letters in the attic of Elm Creek Manor and traces a tale back to 1859. An escaped slave, Joanna, spent a brief period at Elm Creek Farm until she was captured and returned to bondage, leaving her son in the care of the Bergstrom family. If Sylvia is to determine the fate of Joanna and her son, she must rely on one important clue-- the meticulous heirloom quilt Joanna stitched and left behind.

Meditating on the weddings she has attended in Elm Creek Manor throughout the years on the morning of her daughter Caroline's wedding day, Sarah McClure evaluates the symbolic features on a painstakingly made wedding quilt designed to display the signatures of beloved guests.

In this cookbook disguised as a novel, Anna's new position as head chef at a quilting retreat gives her access to the group's recipe trove.

The arrival of newcomers into the circle of quilters heralds unexpected journeys down pathways near and far as well as capturing the spirit of friendship at the moment of its transformation.