CONFUSION OVER DIRECTION OF HOLDING PATTERN CAUSED BY REQUEST FOR CHANGE DUE TO TSTMS.

Narrative

WE WERE ASSIGNED ARR HOLDING FOR LNDG AT PIT. INITIAL HOLDING ALT WAS 15000 FT AT WISKE. WHEN WE TURNED INBND IN THE PATTERN WE NOTICED A CUMULUS BUILDUP IN THE AIRSPACE; AND AFTER SOME DISCUSSION; REQUESTED A MODIFIED PATTERN TO HOLD NW OF WISKE. I MEANT TO SAY NE OF THE FIX; SO I MADE A SECOND CALL REQUESTING NE HOLDING INSTEAD OF NW. THE CTLR CLRED US AS REQUESTED WHEN WE WERE PROCEEDING NE FROM WISKE; ANOTHER CTLR QUESTIONED US AND STATED THAT WE WERE GETTING PRETTY FAR OUT OF HOLDING. I THEN REPLIED THAT THE PREVIOUS CTLR HAD CLRED US FOR THIS AIRSPACE; BUT I ALSO FELT UNEASY THAT THERE WAS THIS MUCH CONFUSION; SO I REQUESTED THAT HE CLARIFY WHAT OUR CLRNC WAS. HE THEN GAVE US A NEW HOLDING PATTERN; WHICH WAS PROPERLY DEFINED AS 'NW OF CTW 102/35.' I AM STILL UNSURE WHETHER THE FIRST CTLR UNDERSTOOD AND PASSED ON MY REQUEST AND/OR CLRNC. WHAT IS LEARNED: I THINK I WILL ALWAYS REQUEST COMPLETE HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS IN ANY FUTURE SIT SUCH AS THIS TO ENSURE ALL PARTIES ARE IN AGREEMENT. NW SOUNDS TOO MUCH LIKE NE WHEN THINGS ARE BUSY AND WX IS BAD.