After moving with her husband Matt to the small college town of Waterford Pennsylvania Sarah McClure struggles to find a fulfilling job. In the meantime she agrees to help seventy-five-year-old Sylvia Compson prepare her family estate Elm Creek Manor for sale. As part of her compensation Sarah is taught how to quilt by this cantankerous elderly woman who is a master of the craft. During their lessons Mrs. Compson reveals how her family was torn apart by tragedy jealousy and betrayal and her stories force Sarah to face uncomfortable truths about her own alienation from her widowed mother. As their friendship deepens Mrs. Compson confides in Sarah the truth about why she wants to sell Elm Creek Manor. In turn Sarah seeks a way to bring life and joy back to the estate so Mrs. Compson can keep her home -- and Sarah can keep her cherished friend. The Quilter's Apprentice teaches deep lessons about family friendship and sisterhood and about creating a life as you would a quilt: with time love and patience piecing the miscellaneous and mismatched scraps into a beautiful whole.
