Here is a list of references to quilts and quiltmaking that I have found in fiction and non-quilt book non-fiction as I have read. These are not specifically quilt books or, necessarily, in the quilt fiction genre. I will add references either as quotes when I read the book or as descriptions if I listen to the book. This is not an exhaustive list and I will add to it as I come across references. I also do not include books I do not recommend. This list is in alphabetical order by title. I have provided Amazon affiliate links for your convenience. Visit your local library to borrow the books.
Apart at the Seams: Cobble Court Quilts, Book 7 by Marie Bostwick. Each book in the series focuses on one of the main characters. This one focuses on Gayla and her marriage while weaving in the quilt shop and quiltmaking.
Between Heaven and Texas: Cobble Court Quilts, Book 6 by Marie Bostwick. Mary Dell’s backstory.
Birds in the Air by Frances O’Roark Dowell. Emma moves to her dream house and find a community through quiltmaking.
The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser. This book starts out in seriously depressing way. Thea’s husband stepped out on her with one of Thea’s friends. This means they are getting divorced, or are, at least, separated. The story gets more positive when Thea inherits from her great uncle and moves to a small Scottish town. She decides to stay there for awhile and works at trying to make friends. As part of that effort, Thea attends the opening of a quilt exhibit (at about 1:29:38 in the audiobook). She also made a quilt and there is a mention of fat quarters (at about 1:30:17 in the audiobook)
A Different Kind of Normal by Cathy Lamb. Jaden has family quilts hanging on the walls of her house.
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. Quilts are referenced throughout the book, but they are not the star of the book – just part of the landscape. Claire has a quilt on the wall of one of her rooms.
The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelly Estes. Mei Lien and Joseph sleep under a quilt on their bed.
Henry’s Sisters by Cathy Lamb. Isabelle mentions quilters in passing on page 85, “The card playing ladies came in on Tuesday night and the quilters came in on Thursday.”
The Lake House by Kate Morton. Digory Brent, Alice Edervane’s detective, has quiltmaking as his hobby. Also, Ben Monroe has a “patchwork eiderdown” on his bed in the Boat House.
The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica Bauermeister, 2013, “…there was a blue and white quilt hanging on the wall…” right around 3:44:26 in the audiobook.
Margaret Goes Modern by Frances O’Roark Dowell. A group of short stories around connecting with others. Quiltmaking has a prominent role.
A Place at the Table: A Novel by Susan Rebecca White. A Double Wedding Ring quilt is hanging on the wall of Bobby and Alice’s Riverside Drive apartment. Amelia describes the apartment in the last part of the book and mentions the quilt by the name of the pattern.
Preface to Murder by M.S. Morris, 2021, a quilt is part of Annabelle’s decor at about 58:00 minutes in the unabridged audiobook.
River’s Edge by Marie Bostwick, 2006, “One group sat in the corner of the kitchen sewing a beautiful quilt that was stretched tight over a wooden frame. These ladies met together every Thursday morning during the winter to stitch the quilt top together, and now they were hurrying to finish it in time for the drawing that would take place at the harvest supper. The holder of the winning ticket would get to take home the quilt, and the money raised from ticket sales would be sent to missionaries in Darkest Africa. It was simply a breathtaking quilt, all done in shades of blue, red, and green and covered with flowers, birds, vines and hearts that one of the ladies said was Baltimore style. I would have loved for one of the women to show me how to make those tiny stitches for myself, but I didn’t have the courage to ask any more than I had the courage to ask what Baltimore was.” pg.67-68
A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick (Cobble Court Series). This book is also about connections, specifically those made in a quilt shop.
The Ship of Brides by JoJo Moyes, reference to teaching war brides to make patchwork quilts, chapter 2 at about 1:14:50 (listened on audio)
Sisters 1, 2, 3 by Nancy Star references to one of the characters being an art quilter. references are somewhat derogatory. Find the references at approximately 2:20 and 5:43 in the audiobook.
Still Life by Louise Penny, ” …or a quilt being auctioned for the senior’s home.”, chapter 1 at about 5:25in the audiobook.
The Spinster Sisters by Stacey Ballis, 2007, “Aunt Shirley even made each of us a small quilt with scraps from their clothes.” pg.4.
A Thread of Truth: The Cobbled Court Series, Book 2 by Marie Bostwick. Ivy is trying to escape a domestic violence situation and ends up in New Bern with a job at the quilt shop. There she begins to rebuild her life.
A Thread So Thin: The Cobbled Court Series, Book 3 by Marie Bostwick. This installment focuses on Garrett and Liza.
Threading the Needle: The Cobbled Court Series, Book 4 by Marie Bostwick. Tessa signs up for a quiltmaking class to relieve the stress of her own life. She reconnects with her childhood friend, Madelyn who has also recently returned to New Bern.
Ties That Bind (Book 5 of 6: Cobbled Court Quilt) by Marie Bostwick. Margot is happy, but Abigail is matchmaking. They also have to contend with a new pastor, one who rocks the town.
Wedding Ring by Emilie Richards, 2005, part 2 chapter 5 (Overdrive audio version), Helen is a quiltmaker and this section talks about her projects, including starting new projects before finishing the current project. Sissy, a neighbor, picks flowers that remind her of a quilt she saw on Helen’s porch. Sissy talks about living with her grandmother and how the grandmother never got to teach her to quilt.
Where Secrets Sleep by Marta Perry, 2015, Allison inherits a retail space and a half share in a quilt shop. The book is set in Amish country and the other owner is a young Amish woman. Her mother, Hannah, teaches Allison to quilt.
Yours to Keep by Shannon Stacey, 2012, The Kowalski family sits on a variety of quilts at the Fourth of July fireworks.
**N. B. : All of the books above are linked to Amazon. Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.