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?”

  5. Harlequin. It’s feminine and it get’s the “jester” quality across more. That and it has more of the Harlequin checkered pattern look.

  7. Carnivale! We need some joy this day. (Also, there is a financial site for investors along with a radio program called ‘the motley fool’, so i don’t think i’d mess with that one.)

  11. I like Harlequin best. It’s ironic that you see “catchy and fun” where I see classic and restrained. It looks very ivy-league, old-money to me.

  14. How about foxtail which, according to the OED, was “Formerly one of the badges of the fool or jester”? Plus, the yarn has a nice foxy look to it.

  15. A word of advice – You don’t want to use Motley Fool – it’s probably trademarked by the two guys who have a website by that name, devoted to stocks, bonds, and things business.

    Punichinello would be my choice

  21. I keep thinking that it looks like seashells and fishing nets. May I suggest “She Sells Seashells”? Kind of hokey but that is what came to mind.

  24. Huh. No votes for Falstaff yet? Well sign me up..I like it.
    Although I have to admit that Carnavale and Minstrel both strike a chord for me also.
    It looks lovely 🙂

  25. Um. me again. Just read yesterday’s post and when you said ‘something about the colour just heralds in the fall’ (or words to that effect) I thought…I don’t think anyone’s suggested Herald yet, as a name. Not that you need more suggestions really, with all the good ones you’ve got going.
    cheers – K

  30. Punchinello gets my vote. It’s a classic name for a classic pattern. But this project will still be lovely no matter what you call it…

  31. I love Falstaff… but on a more nordic note you could also call it Loke… he was the god of trickery 😉 However I like Falstaff better.
    It certainly looks gorgeous nomatter what name it’ll end up with.
    I’d also like to tell you that I looooove the pattern for Irtfa’a which I’m currently knitting! It is so well written! Thank you for a wonderful pattern!

  33. Punch and Judy. It makes me smile to think I might say, “Hey!!!! Who took my Punch and Judy???? Sam? Kade?? Which one of you knuckleheads has got it?”

  34. How about Touchstone? The court fool from As You Like It? Don’t you want to touch that scarf?

    I do like Punch and Judy.

  36. Punchinello has a good ring and marries well with your earlier Rivello. Although I might suggest the Italian spelling which would be Puncinello and would differentiate it from the antique pattern you found. There is a female Puncinella which could be a companion scarf.

    Also like Minstrel and Punch and Judy.

    Another great source of names would be the Commedia del’Arte characters.

  37. You could also use the Italian Arlecchino (Harlequin). Arlecchino is the clown. His son is Truffaldino who sometimes substitued for him wearing similar dress.

    Don’t get me off on this. I could go on for pages.

  39. My family calls anyone who’s mugging it up for the camera/crowd “Punchinello” (usually accompanied with a giggle or chuckle). I think it’s perfect for the pattern and the yarn!

  40. I like Falstaff, has a good sound to it, and the pattern reminds me of something from Braveheart, the diamonds remind me of armor, so “Falstaff” gets my vote. I’m usually not one to like using the yarn used in the name, this way a knitter can pick any yarn that meets gauge and not feel guilty for not using the yarn referenced in the name. I do love the *nameless* pattern though 8)!

  46. I immediately went to the French versions: Pierrot and Pierrette for the mimes who wear the diamonds. Other choices from Italian opera might include Rigoletto or Pagliacci.

    Of the choices already mentioned Harlequin and Carnivale work for me and I LOVE Angeluna’s versions: Puncinello and Arlecchino.

    For me Falstaff is an older male buffoon… and if I remember correctly he gets bested by the women in the story. so for me the name is very masculine and I would save it for a piece of man-lace. I think Touchstone and Minstrel would also be great for man-lace!

    I agree about not using Punch and Judy because people might feel guilty if they chose not to use Judy’s gorgeous yarn (Maybe she’ll make kits available?)

  47. Seems like a lot of folks like Harlequin, but how about the Italian name for it – Arlecchino? It gives a nod to the concept, but won’t duplicate the name.

  49. I know it’s not even close to what you’re after, but I look at this scarf right after your tomato post and I think “Chutney.” Of course, it’s dinner time so that could have something to do with it to.

  53. Punch and judy.

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

  56. 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!

  57. 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?

  60. 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.
    🙂

  61. 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.

  63. 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.

  65. 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*.

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

    btw, I LOVE THIS PATTERN!

  69. 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.

  70. 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”

  71. 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! 🙂

  74. 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!

  76. 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.

  79. 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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