Circle of Quilters (Elm Creek Quilts, #8)

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Circle of Quilters (Elm Creek Quilts #9)

3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 · rating details · 2,443 ratings · 185 reviews

Elm Creek Quilts, the thriving artists' retreat at Elm Creek Manor, is a place that stakes its sterling reputation on the palpable creative energy and collective goodwill of its teachers and students. But when two of its founding members decide to leave the fold, the Elm Creek Quilters face untold changes not only in their personal lives but also in their business. As the...more

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published March 28th 2006 by Simon & Schuster (first published September 6th 1995)

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Jul 27, 2007 Michele rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Pieced Together in a Lovely Pattern
This book, Circle of Quilters, is a collection of several stories, sewn together to create a satisfying tale. The book is divided into character portraits of five people, all job applicants for a teaching position at the prestigious Elm Creek Quilter's camp in rural Pennsylvania. Some of their paths cross on interview day, but there is lengthy back-story and development for each, which elicits sympathy from the reader. I found myself rooting for each to do well...more

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Dec 26, 2007 Jacinda rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: teens/adults

this series of books surprised me. i was literally just staring at a shelf of books at our library one day and picked this book up. no idea what the series was about. but, i was hooked. i always linked quilting to a hobby for older women (no offense intended), but i was so tempted to run out and buy quilting supplies after this. the way the quilts are described really brings them to life...you sense the heritage that is intertwined in the fabric of each quilt...the memories each scrap will elici...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Nathalie S rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I must say I LOVED this book! I couldn't wait to hear what was next and it helped that I read it in a week where I was struggling with sleeplessness (don't know if it was related but it helped pass the long hours). Anyhoo, two of Elm Creek Quilters founding members are quitting to pursue other dreams and so they must hire two more. Five very different candidates are chosen to interview--all of different ages, background, even sexes! It was fascinating to hear their story and how they came to bec...more

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Jan 26, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crafts, quilts

The Elm Creek quilter's stories I know and love are now back. After being vaguely disappointed in the last two, I was beginning to worry that Chiaverini had lost her touch. Not so! With this novel she more than redeems herself. Since there are so many books before this one that it would take a whole page just to summarize and that fact that all these books can be read as a stand-alone I'm not going to go over the previous books.

In Circle of Quilters, Elm Creek Quilters camp, a well renowned quil...more The Elm Creek quilter's stories I know and love are now back. After being vaguely disappointed in the last two, I was beginning to worry that Chiaverini had lost her touch. Not so! With this novel she more than redeems herself. Since there are so many books before this one that it would take a whole page just to summarize and that fact that all these books can be read as a stand-alone I'm not going to go over the previous books.

In Circle of Quilters, Elm Creek Quilters camp, a well renowned quilter's retreat has sent out an ad looking for two new teachers for their camp. This book details the lives and experiences of five of them and just what it would mean to them to become a part of Elm Creek Quilts.

Maggie, a worker at a retirement home had never really been greatly enthusiastic about quilting until she found an antique quilt at a garage sale. After the restoration of this beautiful work, she set about remaking another one in case she ever had to give the original up. It turned out so well that she went on to teach classes and even publish a book involving the quilt. She did all this in addition to researching the maker of the quilt and just what had inspired the beautiful piece of work. Her only worry though is that she has been so centered on one quilt, that she might not be a diverse enough applicant for the job.

Karen, a stay at home mother to two wily boys thinks she wants more out of life than to just be a mother. She loves her sons but has always loved quilting, so much so that she even takes to hiding her fabric stash from her eco-minded husband. She used to be a teacher but had never taught quilting but that doesn't stop her from applying. However, at a last minute cancellation from her husband her worst fear is realized and she has to take her two young boys with her to the interview.

Anna is a chef and loves cooking and anything food. While being troubled with an obnoxious boyfriend (my opinion, not hers) she has to hide her quilting as he thinks it is useless frippery and a waste of time. He also doesn't appreciate her quilting very much even though she has a very unique style. Due to her lack of experience teaching quilting Anna isn't sure how good of a chance she will have getting the job, but she knows she has to try.

Russell was probably one of the most touching stories within the book. His late wife was a quilter and after her death, he found an impulse to finish one of her quilts. Though it was trial and frustration at first, when he at last finished it he felt a deep sense of accomplishment and to his surprise, wanted to make more. He ended up being such a distinctive quilter that he was invited to lectures and started teaching classes. Elm Creek Quilts would be a great fit for him but he's not sure how receptive the group will be to a male quilter and his style.

Last but not least is Gretchen. Born into a poorer family that had always worked for a family of upper class standing, Gretchen is no different when she works with the daughter of that family in helping run a quilt shop where she is a minor partner. Her partnership is not considered equal however and she finds herself longing for more and also wanting some kind of recognition for her talents. She is perfectly qualified for the job and has vast teaching experience, but will Heidi her partner let her go?

Reading the stories of all these characters was very interesting. They all came from very different backgrounds and it showed quite a difference in their talents. All wanted the job so badly and deserved it so much that I had trouble knowing who I was rooting for!

Chiaverini's writing is always so pleasant. I don't think she could be offensive if she meant to. I was pleased to find that the description of the different quilts was returned to an outstanding quality. This was something that had lacked in previous books and I had missed it.

I have to say this is probably one of my favorite books in the series. So much so that I'm glad that I have the next book on hand and can start reading it right away. I can't wait to find out what happens at Elm Creek Manor now that there are new teachers entering the picture.

Circle of Quilters
Copyright 2006
309 pages (less)

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Sep 25, 2010 Dlora rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: general-fiction

This is one of my favorite Jennifer Chiaverini's books. The Elm Creek Quilts business need two more quilting teachers and they send out an advertisement. Five different applicants respond and each chapter in the book describes the life of each one and why they want the job. It's like five short stories tied together by the competition to be the one hired, and each chapter I wanted each one to get the job but only two would make it! Would it be the young girl running a geriatric care center who w...more

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Jan 04, 2010 Rebekah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After a novel out of time, Jennifer Chiaverini writes Circle of Quilters where she explores five different quilters on their path towards becoming an Elm Creek Quilts teachers. The time lines for these stories was peculiar. Each different “chapter” for each different character started at a random time in their life history. We watch them grow as a quilter, but how odd is it to not have a fixed understanding of where the character is in time. Without a beginning all we know is that every beginner...more After a novel out of time, Jennifer Chiaverini writes Circle of Quilters where she explores five different quilters on their path towards becoming an Elm Creek Quilts teachers. The time lines for these stories was peculiar. Each different “chapter” for each different character started at a random time in their life history. We watch them grow as a quilter, but how odd is it to not have a fixed understanding of where the character is in time. Without a beginning all we know is that every beginner will end proficient enough to consider becoming a quilting teacher. Only one of the applicants is actually less than fully qualified.
Maggie picks up a quilt at a yard sale and it takes her on a journey through a failing job and into a published author. Russell takes his journey with quilting learning after his quilter wife dies and he uses her quilting stash to grow out of his pain. These two characters have such a similar ending place it is amazing how diverse their starting places are.
Anna mostly has a young persons problems boys, food/dieting, and finding respect for her burgeoning career. She wants to own a restaurant and her academic-oriented boyfriend can’t respect a career that is solidly along a traditional gender role line and involves cooking in the food services division of the very school he is “improving” himself in. His roommate is amazingly stereotypical of a liberal-arts English major snob and they end his relationship with Anna when he forces her to abandon her prepared gourmet dinner because ‘she shouldn’t have felt compelled to slave away in the kitchen for him’ so that he can triumphantly force box macaroni and cheese upon her. She competently quilts mostly food related blocks and thankfully ends up becoming the new chef for the camp.
Karen and Gretchen were two very different women at opposite times in their lives, but both searching for respect for their positions. Karen is searching for respect from her husband for her work as mother to their children. She is also looking for some outward respect from the world, but that will never really happen. Gretchen is passively looking for respect from her boss, a woman who though 3 years her junior has always been her boss. Gretchen’s family had for generations worked for Heide’s family and eventually Gretchen spent a spell as Heide’s tutor. Heide always had to do what Gretchen did and eventually that led her to opening a quilting shop after being asked by Gretchen for help as a financier. Heide and her family before her had always tried to hold Gretchen back, snide comments about being her maid or too traditional in her work. Anything to keep her unbalanced and not totally confidant in her sense of self worth. Karen is eventually given “mommy time” by her husband to do what she needs to do. Gretchen finally gives Heide her notice and is able to find herself as a valuable person.
The job becomes obvious Maggie and Gretchen get the job, Russell looses out on a technicality. (He has fallen for Maggie and can’t take the job cross country without knowing she will have it too.) Karen is told to get some more teaching experience and Anna gets the chef job that just opened. Now Jennifer Chiaverini just needs to write the next book so we see how they truly work out.(less)

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Jun 10, 2009 Marcie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I rarely give 5 stars. I reserve this rating for books that I think anyone could read and love, or books that have the potential to change your life.
I believe this book easily falls in to the category of one that anyone could read and love (and cherish and blog about and create a book club about :)
After reading Circle of Quilters I am once again in awe of the incredible writing talent of Jennifer Chiaverini. Her ability to create real characters -- the kind of characters that you wish for frie...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Diana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let me make it perfectly clear that I am not a quilter. Have no handcraft talents at all. However, I do appreciate quilts and the work and artistry it takes to make them. This is a story of people and relationships. Elm Creek is a large, old mansion that has been turned into a camp for quilters. People come from all across the U.S. to learn about quilting.
This is a series of books, but you can read any one book and not feel lost because you don't know the characters.
In this book, Elm Creek Q...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Linda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Two of the original Elm Creek quilters are moving on to other opportunities. Five hopeful candidates with different quilting backgrounds apply to join the staff at the Pennsylvania quilting retreat. Chiaverini tells the individual stories of the five prospective teachers in separate chapters. Maggie buys a historic quilt at a yard sale and takes the first steps on her journey to becoming a sought-after quilting expert. Karen is a stay-at-home mother of two, who wants to turn her hobby into a new...more

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Apr 08, 2011 Joanna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was my second Elm Creek Quilts book the first being The Aloha Quilt.

Since I still didn't know who they all were I was guessing as to their roles in the Quilt Camp, especially the little old lady with pink tinted glasses who turned up each time to ask questions of the teacher candidates. And why was the blond, Diane, so direct and nasty during each interview.....?

Definitely some well drawn characters as Chiaverini takes us back into the past of each teacher candidate. I'll be looking forwar...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Rayni rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Rayni by: Favorite author

Shelves: 2011-reads, fav-authors, elm-creek, series

I really enjoyed getting to know each of the final applicants for the two teaching positions at Elm Creek Quilts. They talked about how some of the applicants' quilt shop experience would help if they decided to open a retail side of Elm Creek. I realize I'm reading these books out of order, but I could swear Bonnie either runs her own quilt shop or did. Bonnie was never specifically mentioned in Circle of Quilters.

I read an interview with Chiaverini. She was questioned about some of the mistak...more

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Jan 22, 2011 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As I read, I was rooting for Maggie, Russ, Anna AND Gretchen to become the new Elm Creek Quilters! Between the middle and end, I thought that we are learning so much about these people that for sure Sarah, Sylvia and the others would surely find a place to fit ALL of them!

I was disappointed with Karen--we learned too much about her. I'm not going to get into how I honestly felt about her.

I was very sad for Russ, but congratulated him on his new hobby. I loved the 'scene' that took place about on...more

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Jun 17, 2011 Linda S. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books

If I read one more book where some woman allows herself to be a doormat, I think I'll scream. This book told the stories of all of the candidates interviewing to join Elm Creek Quilts, and two of them were just so submissive to abusive boyfriends and friends it drove me nuts. Really ruined the enjoyment of the story for me. And this is not the first time I've seen this with this author. If I wasn't already so invested in this series (this is the 9th book), I'd stop reading it right now. As it is...more

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Jan 29, 2009 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Circle of Quilters is the seventh book (I think) in this series by Jennifer Chiaverini. Since I just read the first book, I decided to reread this one. You don't have to read these books in sequence although they probably can be enjoyed that way as well.

This book tells the story of several applicants for two positions at the quilting camp and you are encouraged to be sympathetic to them all but the ending works it all out to everyone's advantage.

I wish I were a quilter to take advantage of all t...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked this book and as others have said it was like five short stories rolled into one story. Since there will be two new Elm Creek quilters it was good to hear their back story before they were hired and I found myself rooting for all of them except for Karen. I felt that she was really not ready to give up being at home with her kids, especially since she was still nursing. I found her story very frustrating and wanted to send the TV nanny to her to teach her how to discipline her kids.

As f...more

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May 01, 2012 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A must read for all moms to encourage them to look beyond their brood of children to keep your passion. The biggest guilt all moms have when they had careers prior to childbirth. The Cheerios scene is the best and her child's response it looked pretty. I cried a lot as I had a plan to balance both but my birth story of Mr Toads Wild Ride continues with my now 10 year old whose special needs require my help and supporting my husband career as he is and will always be the bread winner. I am still...more

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Mar 29, 2011 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This one was fun, following the lives of four of the characters people (not all female!) who apply for the two job openings at the Elm Creek quilt camp. We saw what led them into quilting, and how they come and present themselves at the camp. It's a little suspenseful wondering who's going to be chosen, and wondering, too, about the lives of the two members who are leaving... This was one of my more favorite books of the series. I liked the true love and joy the women have together, and bringing...more

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Aug 31, 2009 Skidmorerackliffe rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 11, 2012 Millie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Circle of Quilters is about 5 people - 4 women and one man all applying for 2 jobs at Elm Creek Quilts to be a teacher for their quilting camp. There is a chapter devoted to each of the people applying for the job. The chapters allow the reader to get to know a little about the person and how quilting is a big part of their life. In the last chapter you find out who got the job.

I loved how this book was set up and I was able to get to know the characters and each of their reasons for wanting to...more

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Mar 20, 2008 joyce lynn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

i have bronchitus, the flu, or a combination of both, so i've spent quite a bit of time in bed today. hence me knocking out another book so quickly then!

and what a nice pleasant change this one was, and perfect for an "invalid"!!

light and intrigueing ... if you like to be a sort of a "peeping tom" into other's lives, to see how they live versus how your life has gone, this will do it, plus ... it's witty and sad and ... and, whether or not you know how to quilt, or like to quilt, you can still r...more

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Jan 01, 2008 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit-women-s-lit, fiction, favorite-series, the-100-in-2007

She's back and better than ever. Honestly, I skipped the Elm Creek Quilters book before this one. It was a continuation of one of the Elm Creek back stories about the Underground Railroad, and try though I might, I just couldn't get into it. Suffice it to say, I greeted this one with trepidation.

Circle of Quilters revolves around the Elm Creek Quilts Camp's search for 2 new instructors to replace the two quilters who are leaving Elm Creek to pursue new directions in their lives. There are severa...more

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Aug 17, 2011 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The elm creek quilt books are lovely, light reads. Not trashy, not super heavy, make you think books, just good stories about interesting women. Personally, they remind me of my mom,who was a quilter, and that's probably why I like them as much as I do. If you are a quilter, or love one, you'll probably enjoy this series. Only three stars because it's not something I'd read over and over again, or something I would buy, but a nice book to grab from the library.

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Oct 12, 2012 Trish rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, color, cooking, fiction, quilting, series

The best one yet. Really liked the backstories to applicants to Elm Creek Manor. Real-life tensions between partners featured, rather than highlights of crusty personalities, though Diane managed to alienated everyone throughout. Admire the way Chiaverini managed the back and forth and connection between the characters, up to and including a real decision re who would be chosen to teach at Elm Creek. Congratulations on skillful weaving, Jennifer!

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Jul 25, 2012 Crystal rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really liked this book. As a stay at home mom of 5 I really understood the character Karen. Some things I laughed at because she got so stressed out about things that are so menial. I did like the way you felt you were involved in an in depth interview with each of the applicants. In the end they actually picked whom I would have but I can also see that if you were rooting for one applicant and they didn't get the job it could ruin the rest of the series for you. It was a risk but I understand...more

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Sep 09, 2011 Estela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Spoiler ---
I was surprised I actually in the end enjoyed the book. It captured my attention and then the next chapter I was disappointed it moved on to another story and then another one and another... I was wondering how they were going to finish off the book and include each story but they did it in the last chapter (which was very short) I was rooting for them all and was wondering and hoping for a happy ending. Which I did get.
Each chapter is the story of each quilter leading up to a teach...more

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Apr 23, 2009 Stephanie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Although I can't seem to stay away from quilting these days, I read this assuming that it was a murder mystery. You know, one of those specialty mysteries--gourmet cooking, cats, antiques, etc. It wasn't.

It wasn't as if there wasn't somebody who'd be a good target to murder, no great loss. But she just sat around and spread her negativity instead.

I guess there's a market for quilting fiction. But I'd rather sew than read it.

A dear neighbor bought this book for me. What a sweetie. But I think I'l...more

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Jul 03, 2011 Lorrie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, jennifer-chiaverini

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 27, 2010 Virginia Markhart rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was given this book by my friend Nadina for Christmas. It was so nice to visit an author who I have read many times. This book was very nice. The Elm Creek Quilters were interviewing for two teaching positions. There were five or six applicants you they called to interview. There was an entire chapter devoted to each applicant. It was very nice to get so much background information on each one. Very good read.

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Mar 20, 2009 Carla rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While lying around with my broken foot I've been able to read a lot just for fun. I'm enjoying Jennifer Chiaverini's series about the Elm Creek Quilts. Fun and easy reads! I like this one a lot because it portrays the real changes that come to a group of friends and/or associates. As some leave and need to be replaced, the reaction to change in the remaining women is interesting. Some adjust, others do not and make things difficult all around. Interesting study in human nature and friendships.

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Sep 30, 2008 Debby rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, chiaverini-jennifer

Book 9 of the series is again similar in structure to 2 & 3. Elm Creek needs two new instructors to replace Judy & Summer who are headed to a new job at Penn State & grad school respectively (book 6 - Master Quilter) The ad goes out and 5 candidates are selected for interviews. Each has a chapter documenting their lives, how they came to be quilters, and what quilting means to them personally. Each is facing a turning point in their lives (as opposed to a crisis in 2 & 3) and see...more

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About Jennifer Chiaverini

Jennifer Chiaverini is the author of ten Elm Creek Quilts novels and An Elm Creek Quilts Sampler and An Elm Creek Quilts Album, as well as Elm Creek Quilts and Return to Elm Creek, two collections of quilt projects inspired by the series, and is the designer of the Elm Creek Quilts fabric lines from Red Rooster fabrics. She lives with her husband and two sons in Madison, Wisconsin.

* The Quilter's...more

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Books by Jennifer Chiaverini

The Quilter's Apprentice (Elm Creek Quilts, #1)

The Runaway Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts, #4)

The Quilter's Legacy (Elm Creek Quilts, #5)

The Cross-Country Quilters (Elm Creek Quilts, #3)

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Circle of Quilters (Elm Creek Quilts #9)

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