McKim Monday: Fruit Basket

Summertime is the time of enjoying and preserving fresh fruit!

Ruby Short McKim's "Fruit Basket Quilt" was a series quilt published in 1932.  A few years ago, I found this top:

The pattern was meant to be appliqued and embroidered but this one was drawn and colored with crayon.

I've now seen a few quilts with various colored baskets that had fruit colored with crayons.  Because it was a top, I knew I could make a point that I often make in my embroidery program: embroidery can make a quilt better.  

I've done some outline work on a few of the baskets to make my point.

I like to see how well people did with crayon, partially because it's not as easy as it looks and also because the Lehigh Valley is the home of Crayola Crayons factory.

Ad from Needlecraft The Home Arts Magazine, May 1933

Most of the quilts done in this pattern were appliqued and embroidered.  Probably the best example is on the McKim website, here.

Enjoy the opportunity to eat fresh local fruit and happy quilting!