Ruby McKim Quilts

When I first started to make quilts appliqué was my very favorite technique. I was lucky enough to have learned from one, in my opinion, of the very best quilt teachers, Laurene Sinema. And Laurene is the one who planted the seed for my love of antique quilts. When Laurene first introduced me to Ruby McKim quilt patterns I was hooked. And when I started to collect quilts, of course I recognized those patterns. Also I was lucky enough in the early 90’s to acquire the volumes of Ruby McKim/Kansas City Star Patterns compiled and edited by Harold and Dorothymae Groves. I have the patterns Volume QP 1-6, suitable for redwork or embroidery. I don’t think they are available anymore. I did find this information here. But none of the contact info is any good. I highly recommend collecting these books. None were on Amazon right now, but I would keep looking.

Here are some of my quilts and tops with Ruby McKim patterns. Dates are when the patterns were originally published.

Mother Goose Quiltie 1916

Flower Garden Quilt 1930

And the one I wrote about here.

Farm Life Quilt 1930

Peter Pan Quilt 1926

Roly-Poly Quilt 1923

My quilt is dated February 25, 1924 and has many signatures, purchased this in Texas.

Bird Life Quilt 1928 

Toy Shop Window 1933

This is the first antique crib quilt I bought around 1998. I love this, so sweet.

Bible History Quilt 1927

Bedtime Quilt 1916

Patchwork Sampler Quilt 1930

I wrote a little about this pattern here and have taken that quilt top apart, but not sure I’ll ever get it back together. It needs a lot of help. But I did buy this quilt. Love, love, love.

Not too long ago I bought a quilt that really doesn’t fit into any of my collections, not something I would usually buy, but I thought it was really different and I wasn’t familiar with the pattern. After having it several months I was looking through one of Ruby McKim’s Designs Worth Doing catalogues dated 1931-1932 and what did I see an ad for a kit for my quilt. I was really surprised. I guess because I love the applique and embroidery pattern so much I really haven’t paid too much attention to the pieced patterns she did.

The maker of this quilt couldn’t quite figure out how that leaf in the bottom right corner was suppose to be. Funny! Mine has 15 Iris blocks that measure 12 inches x 15 inches.

There are six different patterns. Now you know what I am on the lookout for.

Do you have any of these quilts? Tulip, Pansy, Iris, Rose, Wild Rose and Sunflower.

Well, I did find another one the Rose pattern now in my collection. Only four more to collect!

I hope you will share your Ruby McKim quilts on the Facebook Group, Quilts-Vintage and Antique I would love to see and hear about them.

Another one I found summer 2012. Oriental Poppy

I wanted to add this update about another blog with wonderful information about Ruby McKim. Check out the blog at The Quilters Hall of Fame Blog.

Ironer/Mangle Ruby McKim

What Fun!

Who says that about ironing? Me, now that I have my Iron Rite Ironer (Mangle) working. I had no idea how much fun and how neat this was to use.

We took a little trip in April to California and some of our favorite antique stores. I like the stores in Orange best. I purchased this top.

















Paid way too much for it, but I am a sucker for Ruby McKim patterns and this is flowers from her
"Flower Garden Quilt" 1930.




It did have issues. Some stains and the construction was awful. Big rippley sashing. I just had to start taking it apart immediately. So after a trip to Jo-Ann's for a seam ripper, I spent the remaining days of our trip taking it apart. Not an easy project. Tiny, tiny stitches in some parts.



















By the time we got back home I had it all apart. Soaked the blocks, and gently washed the green sashing and borders. I knew I wanted to make the blocks smaller, too much background for me. When I had them all laid out to dry, I thought about the Iron Rite Model 88 I had sitting in my garage for over a year. One thing lead to another, and soon I had the thing working with a new muslin cover. Doesn't it look great?







I had no idea just how great this was to iron with. It is soooo cool! In no time at all I had all of the blocks and sashing pressed and ready to recut. This machine is a must if you love and do applique and embroidery. There is no way my handheld iron could have gotten these so perfectly pressed. You press them damp and it is like you starched them. If you want more info on the ironers check this site out. 
Lots of info and there are videos on using the thing. Who knew?

Finished top!

I am very happy with the finished results. Now I am thinking about all those vintage dresser scarfs that need washing and ironing.

Ruby McKim 1930 Patchwork Sampler Quilt

I love quilt designs by Ruby Short McKim. These patterns were published weekly in newspapers around the country. Cherry Basket block appear first on March 30, 1930 in the Kansas City Kansan. I went to EQ and was able to find all of the patterns. The EQ picture is how the original pattern was designed. It will be much easier to reproduce using updated methods of constructions. I need to do more research as to the colors. Each original patterns usually had color recommendations. I would love to make this quilt. I have a vintage top with all but one of the patterns.

25 Block names --

Cherry Basket, Bear’s Paw, Sunbeam, Double T, Noon Day Lily

Corn and Beans, Crazy Ann, Rising Sun, Grandmother’s Cross, Rambler

The Mill Wheel, Sky Rocket, Order No. 11, The Weathervane, Spools

Road to Oklahoma, Wild Goose Chase, The Strawberry, The V Block

Crosses and Losses, Grandmothers Fan, Road to California

Palm Leaf, Double Nine Patch, Little Beech Tree

Here is picture of my vintage Ruby McKim Sampler Quilt. It needs work. Would love to take it apart and set it like the original. Update--I have taken this apart.  Found several of the blocks that need a little lot of help. Still working on this.

Update--

I have a few more examples of this pattern since I first wrote about Ruby McKim's Sampler Quilt.

I purchased this quilt in Pennsylvania two years ago. I knew right away when I saw it hanging on the wall it had to come home with me. I was so excited to find this.

Found this quilt in Oregon last summer.  It is old blocks with a current setting.  It is machine quilted beautifully.  Wish I knew who did it, they did a beautiful job and used the original quilting pattern of Ruby McKim's.  I had to have it.

Can you see the big hole in this one right in the middle.  Also other problems, the tan (think it might have been green at some time) is shredding and some of the cones look like an animal might have enjoyed nibbling. The fabric looks like it could have been in the makers stash for a while, since this pattern did not appear until 1930.  It is machine quilted.  A pattern I have seen before in early quilts. I found this in Oregon last year also.  Couldn't leave it there had to rescue it for $32.  

You can see some of my other sampler quilts Here.