McKim, Ruby

Ruby McKim, née Ruby Short, (born July 25, 1891, Millersburg, Illinois, U.S.—died July 26, 1976, Independence, Missouri), one of the 20th century’s most innovative American quilt designers. Educated at the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts (now Parsons School of Design) in New York City, she later taught art classes for the Kansas City school system. Her first published quilt pattern, for the Kansas City Star in 1916, was an outgrowth of a school art-class project for her students.

McKim became one of the Star’s three quilt illustrators and designed many patterns specifically with newspaper publication in mind. She formed McKim Studios with her husband, Arthur; the McKims sold many hobby and craft newspaper features, as well as eight pattern booklets titled “Designs Worth Doing.” McKim was probably best known for her Art Deco-influenced floral patchwork designs and for her pictorial series quilts, which often combined embroidery and appliqué. These designs included State Flowers, the Flower Garden, Roly-Poly Circus, Bible History, and Nursery Rhymes. Although she made few quilts herself, she always had one sample made up of her patterns: one favourite was the Colonial History series quilt. Her only book, 101 Patchwork Patterns, was published in 1931 and remains a classic. McKim was inducted into the Quilters Hall of Fame in 2002.