Ruby Short McKim may be best known for her book, 101 Patchwork Patterns, originally published in 1931. This innovative book, one of the earliest quilt pattern collections, is still considered a classic.  This is a wonderful resource - historically valuable designs and instructions which are sure to inspire the creative quilter in you.

This book has been reproduced.  Below is a picture of the 1931 edition.

Ruby McKim’s book brings together historical research, a treasury of early American quilting designs, a wealth of practical methods, and a satisfying helping of nostalgia. You will find a variety of patterns -many that are not well-known today. Even the experienced quilter will find things to learn in this book.

You may find less instruction than what you're used to. Very little instruction was included because it was assumed that the majority of women knew how to sew.  Below are the complete instruction sets (pages) for 3 different quilts.

Unlike patterns of today, you will not find full color photographs,  step by step instructions, or photos of completed quilts. There is no mention of modern time-saving methods, and there is a certain quaintness to the text and pictures.  What you will find are black and white hand diagrams of the pattern and minor assembly instructions (color suggestions for those 1930's reproduction quilts, material requirements.)

Whether you use this book to identify vintage quilts or create your own heirloom, you will not want your craft library to be without it! You will be able to add a special value to the each quilt that you make, because you will be able to tell the story of the original quilt design.

Table of Contents:

Chapter I. CHOOSE A PATTERN - Piece or Patch. Quilt Names. Simple and Complex Quilts

Chapter II. QUILT MATERIALS - Favorites for Patchwork. Interlining. Lining

Chapter III. CUTTING AND PIECING - Cutting Out. The Appliqué Process. Piecing

Chapter IV. SETTING TOGETHER - Various Methods. Quilt Sizes.

Chapter V. BORDERS

Chapter VI. QUILTING PATTERNS - Methods of Stamping.  Perforated Patterns

Chapter VII. QUILTING THE QUILTS - Marking Out . Apartment Quilting. Putting Into the Frames. The Quilting Techniques.

EMBROIDERY QUILTS - Bird Life. Flower Garden. Roly Poly Circus.

ORIGINAL QUILT DESIGNS - Butterfly Quilt, Honeymoon Cottage, Iris, Nosegay, Pansy Appliqué, Patchwork Pansy, Rose, Trumpet Vine, Tulip

READY CUT QUILTS - Blazing Star, Cherry Basket, Crazy Ann, Grandmother's Flower Garden, Irish Chain, Lone Star, Noonday Lily, Pine Tree, Rainbow, Wedding Ring, Rising Sun, Rose of Sharon

Patterns in the book:

Album, Arabic Lattice, Aster, Baby's Blocks, Basket of Oranges, Bear's Paw, Beautiful Star, Beggar Block, Bird's Nest, Blazing Star, Broken Dishes, Burgoyne's Quilt, Cherry Basket, Churn Dash, Clay's Choice, Corn and Beans, Crazy Ann, Cross and Crown, Crossed Canoes, Double Nine-Patch, Double Irish Cross, Double Wedding Ring, Dove in the Window, Drunkard's Path, Dutchman's Puzzle, Eight Pointed Star, English Flower Garden, Feather Edge Star, Fish Block, Flower Pot, French Bouquet, French Star, Friendship Ring, Fruit Basket, Goose in the Pond, Goose Tracks, Grandmother's Cross, Grandmother's Fan, Grandmother's Flower Garden, Grape Basket, Greek Cross, Hollyhock Wreath, Honey Bee, House on the Hill, Indian Hatchet, Jack in the Box, Jacob's Ladder, Kaleidoscope, King's Crown, Lafayette Orange Peel, Little Beech Tree, Log Cabin, Lone Star, Maple Leaf, Merry Go Round, Mexican Star, Milky Way, Mill Wheel, Monkey Wrench, Necktie, Noonday, Lily, Ocean Wave, Old Maid's Puzzle, Order No. 11, Palm Leaf, Pieced Star, Pineapple, Pine Tree, Pin Wheels, Rambler, Ribbon Border, Rising Sun, Road to California, Road to Oklahoma, Rob Peter to Pay Paul, Rolling Star, Rose Appliqué, Rose Cross, Seven Stars, Shoo Fly, Skyrocket, Snail's Trail, Spider Web, Spools, Square and Compass, Steps to the Alter, Strawberry, String Quilt, Sunbeam, Sunburst, Susannah, Swastika, Triple Irish Chain, Tulip Appliqué, V Block, Virginia Star, Weathervane, Wedding Ring, Whirlwind, Wild Goose Chase, Windblown Square, Windmill, Windmill and Outline, Winged Square,  Wrench, Zig-Zag