March 1 – 2, 2005
These restored messages come from the Quilt History List, an online forum where quilt historians, collectors, researchers, appraisers, and enthusiasts discussed antique quilts and related textiles. The archive dates from 1996 through approximately 2016 and is being restored gradually. Sign up in the form at the bottom of the page if you want to know when a new page is added. Original spelling, opinions, formatting, and inactive links may remain unchanged.
Primary topics of this QHL Digest:
- “Catywampus” and “Catty-Cornered”: A Regional Dialect Survey — Members from across the US and UK weigh in with where they grew up using, or never hearing, these terms.
- Seven-Pointed Stars in Quilt Symbolism — A tangent on the symbolic meaning of seven-pointed stars across cultures, including Iroquois, Kabbalah, Islam, and Hinduism.
- Ordering the York Exhibition Companion Book — The “Through the Needle’s Eye” book-ordering saga continues, including price and international shipping details.
- Walnut Creek, California Quilt Shops — Members recommend quilt shops for a member’s upcoming visit.
- Post-WWII Quilts Sent Overseas — A member shares a story of quilts made and shipped abroad immediately after World War II.
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 17:08:31 -0500 | From: Pepper Cory <pepcory@>
This ia a 7-point Lone Star and that variety is a bugger to piece! Have heard that the 7-point star is the emblam of the Iroquois nation–any other info? Pepper
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 17:21:47 -0500 | From: Karen Evans
Hm. I’ve always heard it as “kittycornered.” Regional variation, perhaps? I’m originally from Pennsylvania and live in Massachusetts….
Karen Evans
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 17:21:52 -0500 | From: Lynne Z. Bassett <lzbassett@>
> catywampus is a normal expression where i come from and I’m in Texas.
I grew up with the term in Montana. When I moved to New England, nobody had ever heard of it.
Lynne
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 17:25:08 -0500 | From: Lynne Z. Bassett <lzbassett@>
I don’t think that’s the same thing. “Catywampus” means all messed up, in great disarray. “Kittycornered” as I understand it, means diagonally across from something.
From: Judy Schwender <sister3603@>
Grew up in PA, have lived in NY, NJ, CO, MT, NE, and now KY. Everyone seems to know cattywompus. Kittycornered means diagonally across, at least as far as I’ve always understood.
“Lynne Z. Bassett” <lzbassett@> wrote: I don’t think that’s the same thing. “Catywampus” means all messed up, in great disarray. “Kittycornered” as I understand it, means diagonally across from something.
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 18:19:36 EST | From: Jccullencrew@
Grew up in PA, have lived in NY, NJ, CO, MT, NE, and now KY. Everyone seems to know cattywompus. Kittycornered means diagonally across, at least as far as I’ve always understood.
Hi, I grew up with Kattycornered meaning positioning a dresser or such between the two corner walls rather than flush to either wall. Aren’t words wonderful?
From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>
The Shorter OED has this: Cater (dialect 1577) – To set rhomboidally; to cut, go, set etc. diagonally, hence cater-cornered.
None of my sources have cattycorner or cattywampus, but i grew up in NE Ohio and remember the term well.
Xenia
Date: Tue, 01 Mar 2005 18:51:16 -0500 | From: Sandra Mackay <mackaysl@>
“Pepper Cory said:
This ia a 7-point Lone Star and that variety is a bugger to piece! Have heard that the 7-point star is the emblam of the Iroquois nation–any other info?”
The timing of Judy Kelius’ email and Pepper Cory’s response is interesting. I just bought some antique blocks on Sunday that are a circular ‘compass variation’ based on a seven point star. I have a few others that I have acquired in the past and wondered why anybody would take on a pattern like this. Seven doesn’t divide evenly into the 360 degrees of a circle, so it must be hard to draft and have all the pieces fit together and lie flat.
I had wondered if there was a significance to the number seven or a seven point start – for example as a symbol for a fraternal order? I did a quick search through google and found that a seven point star has some significance in Kabala, Islam, Hinduism and Wicca. I don’t think any of these influences are likely to be of importance to the average woman living in 19th century America. Has anybody done any research on this? I’d love to know if there is a reason for using this symbol, other than the challenge.
By the way, I am familiar with the term catawampus, I grew up in New Jersey and Massachusetts. I think I heard it used more by my New England relatives.
Regards, Sandy Mackay
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 20:14:15 -0500 | From: Laurie Magee
I live in Wisconsin and they don’t use it, but my mother was a Texan and she did. laurie
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 18:30:21 -0600 | From: Doug and Sarah Hough <dougandsarah1@>
Not exactly on the subject of quilt history, but we are leaving on April 1 for a week in the Walnut Creek area of California and then on April 8 leave for 26 days in China. We will start in Shanghai then to Beijing, Xian, Chenghu, Lhasa Tibet, Yangtze River cruise, and end up in Hong Kong.
Now for my question, is there anything going on in the Walnut Creek area while we are there (April 1-8)?
And what are “must see” and “must do” and “must buy” in China. And how about “must read” before we go?
I am really excited about this trip and would love to hear any thoughts, experiences, etc. that you can share with me.
Thanks
Sarah in the Panhandle of Florida … where March came in like a lion but is getting more lamb-like.
dougandsarah1@
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 18:56:38 EST | From: Mrandmrsquilter@
I don’t know about the Iroquois (or other eastern peoples) and a seven-pointed star, but the Star Quilt (typically the eight-pointed “traditional” star) has long been traditional among the Lakota (and other Siouan and plains peoples). Although highly commercialized today, the Star Quilt tradition as a gift to honor or recognize an individual’s accomplishments or contributions has a long history. Here are few of the many websites with information:
_http://starquilts.com/tradition.htm_ (http://starquilts.com/tradition.htm)
_http://www.native-languages.org/rugs.htm_ (http://www.native-languages.org/rugs.htm)
_http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/nativeam.htm_ (http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/nativeam.htm)
_http://www.historyofquilts.com/lonestar.html_ (http://www.historyofquilts.com/lonestar.html)
Do a search for “star quilts” and you will find plenty of information. I would caution you to be discerning as there are many “wannabes” who try to gain from interpretations of native culture.
From: Gloria Hanrahan
catywampus–I grew up around the Kansas City area. Heard it plenty in my family.
Gloria
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 09:55:18 +0100 | From: Margareta.Faust@
Good morning all,
During a recent visit to London I bought a couple of wonderful bags made (recently) from old fabrics. The label said ‘dorothy bag’. I’ve looked it upp in my Oxford English dictionary – the definition corresponds to my bags: ‘A bag gathered at the top by a drawstring’, but it gives no explanation of the name, just the date – early 20th century. Could there be a connection with The Wizard of Oz? Or is the original Dorothy British? Looking forward to your answers! Margareta
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 08:28:34 -0300 | From: Pilar Donoso <quiltpdmi.cl>
In Walnut Creek you can find these two good Quilting Stores Thimble Creek and Cotton Patch. If you can drive 20 minutes away, it is New Pieces in Berkeley:
ThimbleCreek 1536 Newell Ave 94596 925 946-9970 , Fax: 925 946-9972 Store Hours: M, W, F 9:30 – 5:30pm T, T 9:30am – 8pm Sat 9:30am – 5pm Sun 11am-4pm Owner: Roxanne and Joe Wood Specializing in: Huge selection of Civil War and other reproductions, flannels, brights, etc. On the Web at: http://www.thimblecreek.com E-mail: http://www.thimblecreek.com Comments: Great selection of classes – from introductory to advanced. Huge selection of fabrics in 6,000 square feet of space – a quilter’s paradise! In Walnut Creek you can find
Lafayette Cotton Patch 1025 Brown Ave. (510) 284-1177 Store Hours: Open in the 10-6 range, daily Comments: This shop has an Annual Outdoor Brown Avenue Quilt Show – this year will be held on July 26, 1997. A great show – lots of quilts made in classes at this shop. The only Bay Area Quilt Shop that gives a punch card discount on all general store merchandise instead of just on fabric like most. Bernina dealer (who gives full credit toward upgrade within first year of purchase! Pretty good deal!) Extensive quilt classes year ’round. Block of the month. Recently held a Quilt Guild Appreciation Day, offering a special discount on all store merchandise (except machines) to all paid Bay Area Quilt Guild members. On the Web at: http://www.QuiltUSA.com Albany New Pieces 1597 Solano Av, 510-527-6779 Store Hours: M, W, F, Sat 10-6; Tu, Th 10-9; Sun 12-5. Sally Davies, owner Comments: fabric and music store combined–mostly quilts, tho Comments: New Pieces Gallery is located in the backroom of the store. Quilt exhibits change monthly
Pilar Santiago, Chile ( I did give quilting clases at Thimble Creek and New Pieces) ——_NextPart_000_0007_01C51F01.D32A4BC0–
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 12:02:02 +0000 | From: Sally Ward <sallytatters@>
Margareta.Faust@ wrote: > Good morning all, > > During a recent visit to London I bought a couple of wonderful bags made > (recently) from old fabrics. The label said ‘dorothy bag’.
I know these as ‘Dolly Bags’, I suspect that ‘Dorothy Bags’ are just slightly posher <G>. I always understood it came from the Dickens character Dolly Varden, who was given to wearing highly trimmed hats and -most probably- carrying a fancy little bag.
It amuses me that there is a firm which makes high-spec instruments cases (gig bags) for musicians. I always picture these jazzers or hard men of rock swinging their dolly bags on the way to a gig <G>
Sally W
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 12:13:19 +0000 | From: Sally Ward <sallytatters@>
I had a reply this morning from the Museum about ordering of the book, a standard letter which I suspect went to anyone who enquired from them.
I have pasted the response below. I am very disappointed that despite all attempts to explain that there would be a need for ordering from overseas they have not taken on board the logistical problems. In this day and age to ask anyone to put their credit card details in an open email is just plain irresponsible. And finding a UKP cheque from overseas will be expensive and archaicly(sp?)slow.
Its not my responsibility, but since I’ve been responsible for plugging the book to the lists I feel an overwhelming urge to apologise 🙁
The price is also slightly higher than I anticipated, and as I have not yet seen a full copy I can’t tell you what the reproduction is like. Certainly, for US purchasers I would suggest taking advantage of anyone who is visiting and thrusting cash into their little hot hand to save on the postage <G>
Sally W
>>>>
Through the Needle’s Eye is available by post, priced £20, plus postage.
Postage: UK: £2.50 per book; Europe: £3.50 per book; Rest of the world: £6.00
Postcards
A pack of eight postcards showing detail from quilts featured in the book is also available, priced £4 each.
Postage: UK: 50 pence per pack; Europe: £1 per pack; Rest of the world: £1.50
To order, email the order form below to margaret.gibb@ with your credit/debit card details, or post it to Through the Needle’s Eye, York Art Gallery shop, York Art Gallery, Exhibition Square, York, YO1 9RY with your cheque or credit card details.
We regret we cannot take book orders over the telephone.
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 12:15:04 +0000 | From: Sally Ward <sallytatters@>
Sally Ward wrote: >
Missed a bit there. The firm is called ‘Dolly Bag’s. D’oh!
> It amuses me that there is a firm which makes high-spec instruments > cases (gig bags) for musicians. I always picture these jazzers or hard > men of rock swinging their dolly bags on the way to a gig <G> > > Sally W >
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 07:20:44 -0600 | From: Mary Waller <mswaller@>
I don’t know about the Iroqouis, but a seven-pointed star is the symbol of the Cherokee nation.
Try to avoid absolute ‘rules’ here – there’s lots of individuality and diversity.
Mary Waller Vermillion SD, USA
From: Kathie Holland <kathieholland@>
A few weeks ago someone posted an extensively written book about coverlets that was now available for purchase. It was an expensive book…. I would appreciate the website for information on purchasing this book! Thanks, kathie in nj Kathie Holland kathieholland@
From: LAHudlow@
I know what “catywampus” is and I in Maryland……we all use it…..also sometimes we say “wonky”.
Lori
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 06:50:58 -0800 | From: Laura Robins-Morris <lrobins@>
Maybe it’s just an “age” thing? It’s probably not in the lexicon of the under-30 crowd :-). Colorful old terms like that might be dying out? We need to educate those young whippersnappers!
Laura in Seattle, and getting older
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 08:57:06 -0600 | From: Kathy Moore <kathymoore@>
Sarah, my husband and I were in China about 8 years ago for 17 days. We went from Hong Kong to Shanghai to Beijing. In my experience, the Friendship Store in Shanghai was much better stocked and more fun to shop in. I didn’t find the Beijing store to be nearly as well stocked or shopper-friendly.
Take your camara and several extra cards. You’ll want to take lots of pictures. Soooo many interesting things to see. The women of Shanghai all dressed up for work riding their bicycles. The children everywhere…so cute. They run up to you and yell, “Hello” and their parents and grandparents just laugh and wave. All the different kinds of vehicles everywhere some so outmoded you wonder how they keep working. Tianamen Square is breathtaking. It is HUGE. Be sure to visit there in the evening about 7:30. There’s a ceremony across the street from Mao’s tomb every evening where they take the flag down. Lots of people gather to see it. It draws quite a crowd. And watching how they manage traffic so the guard can cross the very wide street is fasciniating.
In Hong Kong be prepared for people to accost you as you walk down the sidewalks. They’ll have advertising leaflets to hand out, and will try to sell you things, and will ask to exchange their money for American currency, if things are like they were then. All you have to do is wave your hand and say no and keep walking. Don’t make eye contact. Be sure to go to museums as much as possible. They are very nice, very interesting.
Follow the advice we got, eat only hot foods, fruit you can peel yourself and drink only hot drinks. Your hotel rooms should have a thermos of hot water that will get replenished by the floor attendants frequently. Use that water to brush your teeth and make tea or coffee. Food on the south east cost of China (Hong Kong and Shanghai) contains lots of fresh vegetables, rice, and is made with broths. Food further north (Beijing) is heavier has more oil/fat and depends more on noodles. Be prepared for numerous courses at meal time. At that time they didn’t serve a meal on a plate like we do. They brought out different courses and set them in the middle of the table and everyone sampled everything from there. I kept trying to use my little tiny plate to serve myself portions. It really confused waiters and waitresses. You might sit and watch for a while if you find yourself in such a situation. They do as they do. Don’t be surprised to see a whole shrimp popped into a mouth and the various parts extracted as the eater devours it a little at a time! It is waaaaay different and very interesting.
Always have tissue packets like Kleenex or Puffs with you to use in the toilet. Go as often as you see a restroom. And be prepared to hold your nose some times! Some places have toilet attendants who expect a small tip, so have a few coins with you whenever you use one, just in case you need it.
If you are in a restaurant, especially a western-style restaurant, watch what people do with their table ware. We’re used to bussing our tables when we eat at self-serve restaurants in the U.S. But sometimes the restaurants there will have attendants whose job depends on them bussing the tables. Take your cues from what everyone else is doing.
You’re going to have a fabulous time. I would go back in a New York minute for another visit. I’d love to hear from you as to how things have changed or stayed the same.
Report back to us all when you get home, please. Bon voyage!
Kathy Moore Lincoln, NE ——_NextPart_000_0008_01C51F05.CF3A01F0–
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 09:20:43 -0600 | From: Barbara Vlack <cptvdeo@>
Sandy noted that 7 is used symbolically in Kabala, Islam, Hinduism, and Wicca.
It’s also significant for Christians. There are the 7 gifts of the Spirit from Isaiah that are recited (at least) in the Lutheran baptism service and are brought to the fore at Pentecost.
7 and 12 are often used symbolically in the Bible to note perfection and/or completion.
Whether these apply to this 7-point star is a mystery, but the 7 points in the auction quilt are most interesting. I’m impressed that the seller reported the discrepancy in side measurements!
As to why antique quilts weren’t finished? Same reason contemporary quilts aren’t always finished. The quilter ran out of steam, met a daunting construction difficulty, ran out of fabric, let life get in the way, started another project or thirty, or died.
I have always lived in IL and I’m quite familiar with catawampus (or however it’s spelled). Always meant “haywire” or “out of sorts” or “askew” to me. “Kittycorner” always meant “diagonally opposite,” as in “I live kittycorner to the yellow house” — I’m on the SW quadrant, neighbor is on the NE quadrant, diagonally across the street.
Barb Vlack cptvdeo@
From: Judy Kelius <quilts@>
I have to think that the star in the auction on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item7303237228) was intended to be an 8-pointed star but the maker found that when she had finished 7 points, there was no room for the 8th . . . and then she tried to set it into a square! I’ve seen several of these – some 7-pointed, some 9-pointed, that I think started out to be typical 8-pointed stars. No wonder they never were finished into quilts <GR>! —
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 10:13:32 -0600 | From: Denise Bourgoyne <denise@>
Amy Butler has a Dorothy bag design. Is this it?
http://quilthome.com/advanced_search_result.php/dorothy+bag&x0&y0
Denise Bourgoyne
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 10:35:15 -0600 | From: Susan Wildemuth <ksandbcw@>
Just a gentle reminder….
We’d like to invite you to the Iowa-Illinois Quilt Study Group will be meeting on Saturday April 2, 2005 at the Kalona Quilt and Textile Museum in Kalona, Iowa at 9:30 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. with sign-in beginning at 9:00 a.m. This meeting is open to anyone interested in quilt history from the historian to the quilt enthusiast.
Meeting Day Activities: Morning Show and Share – Any type of antique quilt or related textile. Afternoon Show and Share – Themes are Indigo quilts and Signature Quilts. Quilt Study Discussions – Indigo Quilts and Creating a Textile Study Notebook. Just want to quietly observe and not show a quilt — that is fine too Pre-registration is required for this event.
This event is hosted by: Cathy Litwinow litwinow@ Marilyn Woodin woodin@ Susan Wildemuth ksandbcw@
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 11:55:37 -0500 | From: Jennifer <jasvanhaaften@>
I know I’m just contributing to the off topic information. It’s very interesting about caddywumpus (which is how I imagine it spelled). I grew up in Iowa and live in Illinois. It seems I learned it in Iowa, but people know it here in Illinois.
Here’s what I found about it on-line at http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/3/messages/486.html
“Posted by Bruce Kahl on February 29, 2000 In Reply to: Re: Cattywumpus posted by Bob DeLong on February 28, 2000
“The first element of the word, “cata,” is probably related to “cater,” also found in the related word “catercorner” (or, as many folks know it, “cattycorner” or “kittycorner”). “Cater” in these words is an Anglicization of the French “quatre,” or “four,” and “catercornered” originally just meant “four-cornered.” To specify that something is “catercorner across” from something else is to stress the diagonal axis of an imaginary box, as opposed to saying “directly across” or just “across.” Both “catercorner” and “catawampus” are native American colloquialisms dating back to the 1880’s or earlier.”
“The “wampus” part of “catawampus” is a real puzzler. It may have come from the Scots word “wampish,” meaning “to wriggle or twist,” which would certainly seem to fit with “catawampus” meaning “askew” or “crooked.” But “wampus” also may have been a completely nonsensical element, made up by someone because it sounded funny.. “
“Two other aspects of “catawampus” bear mentioning. First, “catawampus” can also mean “a fierce imaginary animal,” or simply “fierce.” The theory is that this sense of “catawampus” is entirely separate in origin from the “askew” sense, and comes from “catamount,” which is an old American folk term for a mountain lion (cat-a-mount, get it?). “
“Second, both “catawampus” and “catercorner” are often seen and heard with the first element spelled “catty” or “kitty.” Linguists call this process “folk etymology” — people replacing an unfamiliar element in a word or phrase (“cater”) with a familiar one (“catty” or “kitty”). “
So there’s something for you. I still intend to use caddywumpus for crazy askew things and even “wonky” occasionaly for the same meaning.
Hope you enjoyed this etymology trip.
Jennifer in Illinois
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 12:02:16 -0500 | From: Pepper Cory <pepcory@>
Hello all-There are at least three major quilt shops in the Walnut Creek area of California but my favorite, hands down, is the Cotton Patch in Lafayette on Brown Avenue. Email them at cottonpa@ and they’ll give directions etc. Pepper
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 15:19:10 -0500 | From: Candace Perry <candace@>
Now, for something completely different — my kitty cornered is catty cornered! Perhaps it’s because I have a sister named Kitty. I think it always has been, for my family in SE PA. Candace Perry
—–Original Message—– From: Judy Schwender Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 5:30 PM To: Quilt History List Subject: [qhl] Re: Catawampus
Grew up in PA, have lived in NY, NJ, CO, MT, NE, and now KY. Everyone seems to know cattywompus. Kittycornered means diagonally across, at least as far as I’ve always understood.
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 15:19:40 -0500 | From: Joan Kiplinger <jkip@>
I’ll go along with Xenia’s cattycorner in Cleveland area; otherwise if it’s a helter skeleter mess, we just say skewered for cattywampus.
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 14:48:09 -0600 | From: Marcia Kaylakie <marciark@>
Yes, I grew up in southern NJ and we always said catty cornered. Didn’t hear cattywampus until I reached Texas. Marcia
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 07:52:31 +1100 | From: Janet O’Dell
Here in the Antipodes ‘catawampus’ and ‘kittycorner’ are not words in common usage, but wonky or skewwhiff (crooked or askew) would be used often. Two new words added to the vocabulary this week. 😉 Cheers Janet Melbourne, Australia
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 16:38:12 -0600 | From: Gail Ingram <gingram@>
I swore I wouldn’t enter this discussion.
I’ve grown fat eating my words.
I believe there is a nice distinction between catty-cornered and cattywampus.
Catter-cornered means diagonal, opposite corner. Ultimately derives from “quattre/quatre”—four. Catty-wampus means hopelessly, fearfully out of line, out of order; crooked.
On the first, I give you the wonderful character Sister in Eudora Welty’s “Why I Live at the P.O.” Sister is postmistress at the next-to-smallest p.o. In all of Mississippi and after many trials and tribulations in her own home, she takes up residence in that same p.o.
“But oh, I like it here. It’s ideal, as I’ve been saying. You see, I’ve got everything cater-conered, the way I like it. Hear the radio? All the war news. Radio, sewing machine, book ends, ironing board and that great big piano lamp—-peace, that’s what I like. Butter-bean vines planted all along the front from where the strings are….”
Less reliable than Sister are Wm and Mary Morris (Dictionary of words & Phrases, 1978). They say,
The variations on this phrase are too many to list, but our favorite has long been ‘catawampus’ or ‘cattywampus,’ a dialect term heard throughout the South, from the Carolinas to Texas. You’ll often hear the expression: ‘He walked cattywampus across the street,’ and down in Tennessee a college president of mathematics was once heard to say: ‘You might call a rhombus a catawampus square.’
Still another sense of ‘catawampus’ and ‘catty wampus’ was common in some sections of the antebellum South. It meant goblin, sprite or, sometimes, fearsome beast. Slaveowners were known to warn slaves they thought might be planning to run away that ‘catawampus cats’ were lurking in wait for them. They sometimes also made fearsome noises in the night, which they claimed were the bloodthirsty roars of the catawampus cats.'”
Pay no attention to their first sentence and only a little to their second. A local high school mascot is the “wampus cat,” so I can buy the latter part. I think a “wampus cat” usually referred to a panther, but seems often to refer to a bobcat, too. In all cases, it was called a “wildcat,” lived in swamps, and like a panther could throw its voice, which sounded like the scream of a woman. It was universally feared by children when I was growing up. My paternal grandmother lived within a couple of miles of a small swampy area reputed to house a wampus cat, and all the grandchildren refused to sleep alone when visiting her because of said critter.
But here is something from “Word Wizard” that strikes me as more credible, esp. in this sections settled by Scots-Irish, for wampus:
“The “wampus” part of “catawampus” is a real puzzler. It may have come from the Scots word “wampish,” meaning “to wriggle or twist,” which would certainly seem to fit with “catawampus” meaning “askew” or “crooked.” But “wampus” also may have been a completely nonsensical element, made up by someone because it sounded funny..
Two other aspects of “catawampus” bear mentioning. First, “catawampus” can also mean “a fierce imaginary animal,” or simply “fierce.” The theory is that this sense of “catawampus” is entirely separate in origin from the “askew” sense, and comes from “catamount,” which is an old American folk term for a mountain lion (cat-a-mount, get it?).
Second, both “catawampus” and “catercorner” are often seen and heard with the first element spelled “catty” or “kitty.” Linguists call this process “folk etymology” — people replacing an unfamiliar element in a word or phrase (“cater”) with a familiar one (“catty” or “kitty”).”
So, as the Dixie Chicks say, “there you have it.”
Cattywampus in Louisiana, Gail
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 17:58:40 | From: KareQuilt@
Surely everyone needs a polyester top to quilt! No affiliation. <g>
Karen Alexander
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 18:08:51 -0500 | From: Barb Garrett <bgarrett421@>
I’m with Candace — in my family it’s also catty corner. Except for this discussion, I don’t remember hearing the phrase kitty corner. I know that when my guild has set up shows, and we put display items diagonally across the corner, others have also described it as catty corner. I think I must do an informal survey.
I never thought about it, but assumed cattywompus and catty corner were “standard English words”, used by everyone.
Barb in southeastern PA
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 23:14:48 +0000 | From: Sally Ward <sallytatters@>
Let’s hear it for wonky and skewiff, they’d be understood anywhere in the UK whereas catawampus and kitty/catty corner would get you nobbut a blank stare.
Sally W
Janet O’Dell wrote: > Here in the Antipodes ‘catawampus’ and ‘kittycorner’ are not words in common > usage, but wonky or skewwhiff (crooked or askew) would be used often. Two > new words added to the vocabulary this week. 😉
From: Barb Garrett
This is a story about quilts being made and sent overseas immediately after World War II. It is a true (documentable) story.
A new traveling quilt exhibit from Mennonite Central Committee, featuring 19 quilts made by North American Mennonites and used by refugees in the Netherlands after World War II, will be on display at the PA Relief Sale in Harrisburg, PA, April 1-2, 2005.
During the war a young Dutch Mennonite woman, An Keuning-tichelaar, and her husband, Hermann, were active in the non-violent resistance to the Nazi Germany occupation of the Netherlands and sheltered many people in their home, including Jewish refugees, members of the resistance, and injured civilians. After the war they opened their home to Mennonite refugees who had fled Russia.
All of those who took refuge in their home were offered food, clothing, shelter, and comfort. The refugees slept on and under warm homemade quilts and comforters made by North American Mennonites sent to Europe by MCC.
This exhibit pieces together the wonderful stories of An and the Dutch Mennoniites with the story of Lynn Kaplanian-Buller who rediscovered the quilts years later, the story of Russian Mennonites in search of a new home after the war and the commitment of Mennonite Central Commitee and the North Americans to provide relief, comfort and hope.
Good Books (of Intercourse, PA) is publishing a brand new book, Passing on the Comfort: the War, the Quilts, and the Women Who Made a Difference, written by Lynn Kaplanian-Buller and An Keuning-Tichelaar, which tells this amazing story and pictures the quilts and comforters.
It’s me, Barb, again — the above information was copied from the Auction brochure for the MCC Relief Auction that is held the first Saturday of April in Harrisburg, PA. I wanted to let people know about this collection of quilts in case their late March/early April plans include a trip to Lancaster, PA, and they want to make a side trip to Harrisburg. There’s a nice 4 lane highway from Lancaster to Harrisburg. This is the link for the auction — http://www.pareliefsale.org/
I haven’t seen the book — it’s not available yet — but I have seen the quilts. They do exist, and are authentically old <grin>. The quilts aren’t beautiful — they are well worn utility quilts made in the US and Canada when a call went out for relief comforters for Europe, much as calls have gone out in recent years for comforters for Afghanistan, the Sudan, and Indonesia. As a piece of quilt history, the quilts are interesting, and I’m anxious to read the stories of these and the other quilts sent to the Netherlands. But please don’t expect visually beautiful quilts and be disappointed — they are faded, worn, and of simple construction. Patterns are typical of the time period. Some of the quilts have a circa 1900 top, quilted in the 1940s. Sometime in the early 1990s they were “repaired” or “restored” in preparation for an exhibit in Europe — and those repairs are still on the quilts. The repairs are the only bright spots on the quilts.
I don’t know the exact schedule for the auction, but I was told the quilts will be on display Friday evening and Saturday morning. If you have gotten a brochure for Quilter’s Heritage in Lancaster, check the Saturday night dinner/speaker. An and Lynn will be speaking about the quilts and the stories behind them.
I believe the plan is for the quilts to be on tour for 3 years in the US and Canada — the itinerary is still being organized, but when I learn it, I will post it so that, if you are interested, you can visit the quilts if they come to a town near you. Their initial showing is in Harrisburg. I think there are approximately 18 quilts in the collection. In addition to the book of stories (no patterns in the book), a collection of patterns to make doll and crib sized quilts inspired by quilts in the collection will also be offered by Mennonite Central Committee.
Update – Google is a wonderful thing. I just found this link — and it includes pictures — how exciting. The 3 quilts shown — the knotted string quilt on the left is typical late 30s/40s, the middle quilt is indigo with mourning prints and shirtings, and you are only seeing part of the log cabin quilt — what’s shown is circa 1910, but it was too small and the 1940s quilter added a strip of log cabin blocks made with 30s/40s fabrics along the one edge to enlarge the top. http://www.saudervillage.com/Creativity/quiltfair_exhibit.asp
Barb in southeastern PA
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 17:26:26 -0800 | From: Julia D. Zgliniec <rzglini1@>
Dear QHL, Ah…language.
Here ( in the US) on occasion references are made to “policy wonks” – usually meaning those “in the know” or experts on various governmental policy agencies or what ever.
If someone is “wonky” – they would be an expert on some topic. But in the UK, they would be crooked? Askew? Odd?
Julia Zgliniec Poway, Ca.
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 21:10:02 -0500 | From: Sharon in NC <patchworksecrets2@>
Referring to a person being wonky here usually means they are a little “off” as in crazy or weird..lol.. Never heard of someone knowledgeable being referred to that way.
wonky items usually mean tilted or out of balance or square.
Sharon in the foothills of NC
From: sue reich
Welcome to March and Women’s History Month! I have been saving oodles of nineteenth century stuff about women and this seems the appropriate month to begin. I am having computer issues. So, I might miss a day or three.
The Woodland Daily Democrat Woodland, CA, 1891
Women North and South. A Kentuckian, speaking of the northern fashion of letting a woman hustle for herself in public places, says that this is entirely due to the demeanor of the northern woman herself. When he is south, he always resigns his seat in a public vehicle to a woman, and makes it his business to secure her comfort whenever possible, regarding the welfare of every woman as the special care of every man. In the south the women are dependent, confiding and helpless. In the north they know what they want, and they go and get it with a rapidity that startles the average man. The northern woman buys her own car tickets, checks her baggage, gets aboard, looks around for a seat, and waits her turn for one with all the independence and courage of any man that can be produced. She wants no favors and she asks for none. This is so plainly apparent that, as the Kentuckian says, he is half afraid to offer her any favors for fear she may resent his interference; and, even when he is sure that she will not, and when she looks at him longingly, he himself is half provoked at the general swing of the sex in the north and would not offer her a seat anyway. – San Francisco Argonaut. Hope you enjoy this stuff! sue reich
