Kutztown in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Quilting Lore

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017

1. Quilting Lore Marker

Inscription.
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 woman [sic] used to say "Des gebt blendi buus oonich da deck." This means there will be many a kiss under this quilt.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Industry & Commerce • Women.

Location. 40° 31.095′ N, 75° 46.976′ W. Marker is in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. It can be reached from North Whiteoak 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

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Country.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dew of Heaven (here, next to this marker); Pennsylvania Half-Timbering (here, next to this marker); The Mennonites (here, next to this marker); The Moravians (here, next to this marker); Funeral Feasts (a few steps from this marker); Dutch Folksong Tradition (a few steps from this marker); The Bush Meeting (a few steps from this marker); Thanksgiving & Harvest Home (a few steps from 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.

Quilting Lore Marker and Other Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017

2. Quilting Lore Marker and Other Markers

(Submitted on July 15, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. The Pennsylvania German Society. (Submitted on July 15, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. (Submitted on July 15, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 346 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 15, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.