Kutztown in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Quilting Lore
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017
1. Quilting Lore Marker
Prospects of marriage: after a quilt was completed at a quilting party, four unmarried girls would each take a corner of the new quilt and hold it so it sagged in the middle. A cat was put into the quilt, and then with a little jolting would run up to a corner and jump out. The girl holding that corner would be married within the year.
If the thread knotted during quilting, the women used to say "Des gebt blendi buus oonich da deck." This means there many a kiss under this quilt.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Industry & Commerce • Women.
Location. 40° 31.073′ N, 75° 46.997′ W. Marker is in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. It can be reached from Wentz Street. Marker is on the Kutztown Fairgrounds, home of the Kutztown Folk Festival. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 450 Wentz Street, Kutztown PA 19530, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It is also in
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Wheelbarrow Matches (here, next to this marker); The Conestoga Wagon (here, next to this marker); The Bush Meeting (within shouting distance of this marker); Thanksgiving & Harvest Home (within shouting distance of this marker); Cider (within shouting distance of this marker); The Plain Dutch (within shouting distance of this marker); New Year's Day Lore (within shouting distance of this marker); The Candlemaker (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kutztown.
Regarding Quilting Lore. Excerpt from "Today... and Yesterday" by The Morning Call
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. A near identical marker
Also see . . .
1. "Quilting Traditions in the Dutch Country," in Pennsylvania Folklife Vol. 46, No. 3.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017
2. Quilting Lore Marker and Other Markers
2. The Pennsylvania German Society. (Submitted on July 11, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. (Submitted on July 11, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 335 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 11, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
