Jennifer Chiaverini - The Loyal Union Sampler from Elm Creek Quilts

Publisher: Amy Marson Creative Director: Gailen Runge Art Director: Kristy Zacharias Editor: Deb Rowden Technical Editors: Alison M. Schmidt, Teresa Stroin, Carolyn Aune, and Mary Flynn Cover Designer: April Mostek Book Designer: Kristen Yenche Production Coordinator: Jessica Jenkins Production Editor: Alice Mace Nakanishi Illustrators: Tim Manibusan and Aliza Shalit Photo Assistant: Mary Peyton Peppo Photography by Christina Carty-Francis and Diane Pedersen of C&T Publishing, Inc., unless otherwise noted Published by C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549 DEDICATION To Elm Creek Quilts fans everywhere whose admiration for The Union Quilters inspired this book. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am grateful to the wonderful quilting friends who contributed blocks to several of the Loyal Union Sampler quilts featured in this book: Barbara Ahlf Tanya Anderson Annette Ashbach Donna S. Austin Fernande Authuys Pamela Craft Avara Yvonne Bagnell Jenet Hiller Bakke Cynthia Barger Chiquita Barnes Beverley Fredericka Barnett Kathleen N. Bart Colleen Bartell Roxanne Baumann Diane Becka Marianna Bergkamp Judith Berry Connie Boulay Dorothy Bourdo Debra Braaksma Josie Bricco Alice Brooks Marie Z.

Brown Rita Broyles Pamela Bruner Debra Bourdo Bryant Jorja Burke Dawn Burks Jeanne M. Butler Julia Callanan Bethaney Campbell Phyllis K. Campbell Maria Catalano Grace Chandler Debbie Childress Patty Clayton Michelle Clubine Karen Jackson Cot Jane Cotter Mary A. Crowther Laurie Cwerenz Karen Cyson Shannon Davin Kathy Decker Carolyn Dell RoseMarie DeNatale Lynda Goldstein DeTray Linda L. Diaz Barb Dinger Jacqueline Dorsey Louise Dutove Laurie Edvardsson Donna Eisman Janet Ann Elia DeAnna Elliott Esther Else Sharon Everson Elise Fare Julie Faulkner Jean Fischer Cecile Flegg Patricia H. Frey Lou Jane Gatford Barbara Geiseman Maggy Giorgetti Julie Goedeke Sharon Goodno Bonnie L.

Gottsacker Mary Grafton-Krogh Carrie Graziano Joelle Gregorcich Donna Mae Grim Joyce Munz Hach Rebecca Hafemeister Karen Hallman Katherine Hallman Ruthann Haluschak Patricia J. Harrell Joanne Harris Kate Thompson Hayes Jennifer Heeres Kathryn Heusinkveld Heather Hickling Donna Hoerig Melanie Bassett Hudson Karen Huffman Gay L. Jackson Barbara Jennekens Connie Jeske Nancy Joiner Mary Jordan Paula R. Jungerberg Cheryl A. Karl Robin Kessell Barb Killen C. Louise King Sheri Klaich Susie Klostermann Lynette Konitzer Sharon Kopp Elni Langeveld Valerie Langue Rhonda S.

Lauer Cathy Leitner Kathe Lemmerman Jan Lennstrom Carole A. Lienau Linda Long Cheryl Lorden Jennifer Lorenzo Judy Losinski Wanda Lowrey Deb Luebke Debbie Madigan Donna Malchow Joanne Maner Leonore V. Mangold Debbie Markowitz Kathy McAdam Pauline McBride Judy McCabe Krudwig Sandra McLay Jane Miller Terry Miller Ann L. Milne Patricia J. Minorik Barbara Miska Susan Mokler Lis Moore Faith Morlan Maryanna Moseby Jan Mullarkey Nancy Munson Carol Netzler Karen S. Nuss Gerry Olson Carolyn Oltman Kathy Oppelt Beth Owen Nancy Panozzo Karen Pantony Susy Parrott Terri L.

Pearce Penny S. Pember Sharon Petersen Sharon Phillips Cherie Pingle Cheryl Plourde Suzanne Prather Becky Preston Gloria Prillwitz Karen Pruehs-Kozlowki Ginny Radloff Patricia Rahrig Katell Renon-France Shirley Van Vlierden Robbins Anne Ida Rkeness Kay D. Romahn Marcia J. Rowe Rita L. Sainz Kris Scharfenberg Jennifer L. Schmidt Susan P.

Schultz Sue-Z Schwab Christina Seaman Ellie Marie Senne Robin Shaw Joanie Sheridan Deb Sherrock Darlene Slater Bernadette Smelik Debbie Saddler Snook Sandy Sderblom Julie Gilman Spokane Linda Starkey Chris Stein Jane M. Stevens Shelley Stevens Melba Stockdale Rosemary Strube Anita Marie Rose Stumpf Catherine R. Taylor Cindy Temple Connie Tessier Sue Thorland Fran Threewit Barb Tibbals Marie Tovo Lisa A. Treptow Joan Tyree Annelies van den Bergh Mirjam van der Meulen Caroline Van Maele-Delbrouck Carol VanTreeck Lynn Vegafria Sue Wagenaar Agnes M. Waksmunski Kay M. Walker Lorianne Walker Susan Wehmeyer Fran Weintraub Kathy Welliver Patricia Wendt Liesbeth Wessels Sharon Wetherall Cindy Wilson Kristine Winkler Linda Witt Krista Yokum Marsha Zackschewski Katie Zenk Kim Zenk Carin Zwaneveld I offer special thanks to Anne Ida Rkeness and Annelies van den Bergh, who made their own exquisite Loyal Union Samplers for the Gallery, and to Sue Vollbrecht, who beautifully quilted most of the quilts within these pages.

I also thank my mother, Geraldine Neidenbach, for binding many of the quilts for me. This book would not have been possible without the contributions of the wonderful creative team at C&T Publishing, especially Gailen Runge, Deb Rowden, Alison M. Schmidt, Teresa Stroin, Carolyn Aune, Mary E. Flynn, April Mostek, Kristen Yenche, Jessica Jenkins, Alice Mace Nakanishi, Tim Manibusan, and Aliza Shalit. Many thanks to you all. President Abraham Lincoln, Washington, D.C., March 8, 1864 Ive always been fascinated by history, especially womens roles in American history, and writing the Elm Creek Quilts novels has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to research many different regions, quilting styles, and historical eras. President Abraham Lincoln, Washington, D.C., March 8, 1864 Ive always been fascinated by history, especially womens roles in American history, and writing the Elm Creek Quilts novels has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to research many different regions, quilting styles, and historical eras.

My longtime readersespecially fans of The Runaway Quilt, The Sugar Camp Quilt, The Lost Quilter, The Union Quilters, and Mrs. Lincolns Dressmakerwill not be surprised to learn that if I had to choose a favorite historical period to write about, I would choose the antebellum and Civil War eras. The Civil War era was a tumultuous and transformative time for the United States, showing the best and worst of humanity in stark contrast. Looking back, we discover great moral failings alongside true heroism in the struggle for justice, equality, and freedom. My personal heroes are people who face adversity with moral courage and dignity, whose hunger for justice and compassion for others lead them to stand up for what is right, even at great risk to themselves. In my writing, my favorite characters usually possess similar qualitiesalthough sometimes, at a crucial moment, they may fail to do what is right and must endure the consequences.

What slavery and the Underground Railroad say about our countrythat we are capable of both great moral failings and tremendous goodnessresonates strongly even today, perhaps especially today. As a creative person, I am drawn to explore and try to understand that conflict. Several characters in The Union Quilters first appeared in earlier Elm Creek Quilts novels set during the antebellum period. As I reflected upon their past adventures and conflicts, I thought it would be interesting to explore how they responded to the Civil War when it finally erupted. My characters experiences are based on historical accounts of real woman on the home front and real soldiers at war. As The Union Quilters opens, it is 1862, and the men of Waters Ford, Pennsylvania, rally to answer Mr.

Lincolns call to arms, spurring the women of the Elm Creek Valley into their own battle to preserve the nation. Dorothea Granger, dismayed by her scholarly husbands bleak descriptions of food shortages and illness in the soldiers camps, marshals her friends to wield their needles for the Union and provide for the mens needs. Her friend Constance Wright staunchly supports her husband as he is repeatedly turned away from serving in the Union army because of the color of his skin, and she is determined to help him secure both the privileges and the responsibilities of citizenship. Anneke Bergstroms pacifist husband does not enlist, but his safety becomes her shameone that compels her to work ceaselessly for the Union cause to prove her familys loyalty. A gifted writer committed to hastening the wars end, Gerda Bergstrom takes on local Southern sympathizers in the pages of the