Mickie asked about other individual RSM patterns, so here is a newspaper design from 1926. Although I love these butterflies, I can’t imagine wanting to stitch them in all white, or even with “spots of color” as suggested below. I would probably stitch the whole butterfly in jewel tones.
Nothing is more nearly a universal favorite among needleworkers than butterfly designs. They have been fashioned of finest lace, embroidered on sheerest mull or brilliantly blazoned in colorful silks. Here are three graceful butterfly motifs that may be traced onto guest towels, scarves, pillow slips, girl’s frocks, and aprons — either as separate motifs or to use with flower designs. They are readily adapted to either all white, madeira style, or to use with color spots of blue, yellow, orange and black.
This is a McKim Studios catalog from the period. I often think how wonderful it would be if one could order stuff from vintage catalogs, and in this case you actually can. Some of these patterns are available at the McKim Studios web site, which is maintained by Ruby Short McKim’s granddaughter. Click on any image for slideshow.
oh oh oh THANK YOU MARTHA!!! I love the butterflies and love looking at these pages. The headlines alone are great! “Quilts are the Handcraft Headliners” what a great slogan~~~ Thanks so much for posting these, I’m enjoying exploring them. PS, love the apron slogan too, you should use that one day for your giveaways!!! 🙂
Thanks again! Hugs, Mickie
I like the moon man pillow for .25 cents. 😉 I remember when lots of children had round pillows on their beds that could hold their pj’s until bedtime. I loved those pillows!
I love all of the Ruby McKim booklets! I wish some publisher would republish them so we could buy them again. I’m going to try to reproduce a few of the quilting patterns like the Cherry Basket and the Morning Glory Vine. They add so much to a quilt. Thanks for sharing these, Martha. These old patterns and designs are my favorites.
Wow, thank you so much for all of these!!!!!
Each page is so interesting! I would love to find some of these great old designs someday. Thanks for sharing!
My Grandmother taught me to embroider on A Ruby McKim Butterfly. Grandma kept everything for years. She even had newspaper clipping from the earliest days. I was delighted when she pulled out a tracing from her beloved treasure trove;her old newspaper box. She taught me to copy them onto fabric and stitch all in one magical summer. Such great memories! Thanks for the look!