Graduate student Finn Dodd develops cold feet when she suspects her fiancé is cheating . As a way to clear her head, Finn sees her grandma, Hy, and good aunt, Glady Joe Cleary, at Grasse, Calif.. There, Finn learns that Hy and Glady Joe are all members of a group of ardent quilters, and over the course of her trip she's regaled with stories of life and love by women who have collected rich experiences and wisdom.