A young slave stitches a quilt with a map pattern which guides her to freedom in the North.

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.

When two members decide to leave the fold, the Elm Creek Quilters must buckle down and choose a new pair. Excitement over the open slots is palpable. The top candidates include history lover Maggie, chef Anna, the groundbreaking Russ, the deeply gifted Karen, and the soulful Grethcen. Under the guidanceof the master Sylvia Compson, the quilters deliberate, knowing full well their decisions will have a profound impact on their legacy.

When Elvirey and her family move to a log cabin in the Michigan woods, something even more important than Granny's quilt pieces makes the new dwelling a home.

In the aftermath of a difficult divorce, Bonnie heads to Maui to help her friend Claire launch a quilter's retreat, a getaway marked by beautiful sunsets, regional quilting activities, and her ex's plot to claim Elm Creek Quilts' resources.

Esme Cahill thinks she has failed spectacularly: fired from her New York City publishing job, divorced from her husband, and possessing little more than a broken-down car and a pile of unfinished manuscripts, she drives home to Asheville at the request of her late grandmother, Adele, who had begged her, just before she died, to return to the place she grew up. There she discovers the once-charming lakeside retreat run by her family is sliding toward...

With her cat in her lap, an old woman makes a quilt, stitching into it the experiences and objects of her life.