jester, no jester?

Posted on annePosted in designing, projects

ok, here’s one for you: rachel’s been poking around on ravelry and found that there are already a number of existing patterns named “jester” (shucks, right??), and she thinks we shouldn’t use that name. so i’ve come up with a list of possible alternatives that are somewhat equally catchy (it has to be catchy and fun i think) . . . tell me what you think:

  • punch and judy (i like this because i’m using judy’s sirena yarn to knit it)
  • punchinello **still in the running but you have to check out this antique pattern link that rachel found on ravelry
  • carnivale **already in use by a well-known designer
  • comédie **already in use on existing dishcloth patterns
  • falstaff
  • motley (refers to the fabric pattern traditionally worn by jesters and harlequins) **already used in a couple of existing patterns
  • harlequin **already used many times on existing patterns

(additional ideas are welcome)

hopefully i’ll be back later today to blog for real.

81 thoughts on “jester, no jester?”

  3. Punch and judy.

    And do you have Mark Bittman’s vegetarian cookbook? Otherwise I must send you a recipe for fall harvest…

  6. Hi Anne – How about Conchita? The motif reminds me of a certain scallop-type shell we have on the beaches here in Florida, and it’s a name that strikes me as kind of flirty, which the design brings to mind. And I love the color! Like your tomatoes. OK, how about…tomatilla? 🙂

    Cheers!

  7. I haven’t read the other replies, so I don’t know if you’ve already had these suggestions, but how about Fool or Joker or Court Jester?

  10. How about Pulcinella, the commedia dell’arte character and the name of a Stravinsky suite and ballet? Using the ‘a’instead of ‘o’ at ehe end. And I don’t see anything with that name on Ravelry.
    🙂

  11. Here’s an idea – Mountebank. I remembered it from a series of books by Robert Asprin – Phule’s Company.

    Regardless of what you call, I’m going to have to knit it.

  13. I think Dawn is on to something. Are you familiar with the Italian Commedia dell’Arte? These plays, which are often broad farces and very funny, use traditional characters with wonderful Italian names: Arlecchino (Harlequin), Pantalone, several others, all best said with a thick Italian accent.

  15. How about Papageno? He’s the comedic birdcatcher from “The Magic Flute”, and is my favorite character from opera. He’s very funny and flighty, and he has a happy connotation, as when he’s introduced as a character, he sings about how he wants to find a wife and he gets one (and the final duet between Papageno and Papagena is just adorable.) The fact that Mike Rowe from “Dirty Jobs” (and who should be nekkid far more often on that show) sang the role at one time has NO bearing whatsoever on my suggestion. None. Whatsoever. 😉

    But not Pierrot! He’s the sad clown who gets his heart broken by Columbine, and we don’t want a sad name for the scarf! That color is far, far too jolly for a sad name.

    Besides, I had a Pierrot doll my sister brought for me from France as a child, and I think I’m scarred for life. That thing was *creepy*. I’ll buy the pattern no matter what it’s called, as I have the perfect yarn for it, but still. China Pierrot was *creeeeeepyyyyy*.

  17. likely you’ve landed on a dandy name; in case not, i reintrodice BAGATELLE

    btw, I LOVE THIS PATTERN!

  19. I like Liz T’s “Foxtail” suggestion: nice and foxy colour, related to jesters, and I believe there is a lovely grass called “Foxtail” that has the interlocking aspect that the diamonds suggest.

  20. There’s also Scaramouche (or actually Scaramuccia).

    Another member of the Commedia dell’arte. I also remembered the name as another pseudonym for Willard Phule from Robert Asprin’s books.

    You could be terrible and make a parody, such as “Scarfamouche”

  21. I really like Jester. How about adding to that so you can keep it? Like maybe Old World Jester or The King’s Jester or The Queen’s Jester (after all, kings shouldn’t have ALL the fun)? Something like that?

    Looks great, the color is amazing and I love the pattern! 🙂

  24. Mitty beat me to it–I was going to suggest Feste also. Twelfth Night is one of my favorite plays. I had no idea pattern naming could be so fraught. It’s a lovely stitch pattern!

  26. In the wikipedia entry for court jester the character name I liked the best was Rigoletto. If that is too similar to rivolo, then I liked the suggestions for Arlecchino.

  29. How could you NOT call it Punch and Judy!:-) I love your pattern in Sirena. I bought some at Vermont Sheep and Wool. So beautifully soft. Can’t wait until you release this pattern.

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