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A court of Wallabies came hopping by...

15/1/2015

 
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I love collective nouns, in a sort of ridiculous semi-obsessive way. Sometimes on car drives we might even try and come up with the most silly collective nouns possible to pass the time; some of our favourites are a shiver of sharks, a parcel of penguins, a mask of raccoons and a journey of giraffes.  And yes, these are all real ones. One of my favourite kids books is this one.  It's absolutely gorgeous.

So when I came to name the e-book for this trio of patterns; a collective noun seemed totally appropriate. The only debate was which one? You see, there are a number of collective nouns that can be applied to a group of macropods; court, mob, herd or even a troop. 
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This pattern has been in the works for a while. It came about as a class pattern that I used to teach a class on The Beauty of a Circular Yoke at The Craft Sessions. You all know how much I love a circular yoke. The original version of this was written for a 15" and 16" chest size (about newborn to six months size range) and the idea behind the pattern was to use a simple silhouette to demonstrate how different increases look and work when you're knitting a circular yoke. It was a happy co-incidence that the trio of increases I used actually created a really lovely effect on the yoke. The long garter stitch cuffs just seemed to be the perfect finishing touch to this cardie.

Then Lily needed a new school cardigan, there were three balls of Malabrigo Rios sitting in my stash and a small sample  of this wee cardie in front of me, so naturally that's where I went.  Usually I would probably knit Rios at a dk weight tension, but I only had three balls and I knew that that would be pushing it. And so Lily's new cardigan got knit with a 20 stitch tension. And thus my friends, is the reason this pattern is available for a 10ply/worsted weight tension; simply because I had the sample before any pattern even evolved.
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The obvious next step was to knit an 8ply/dk weight sample. And again, this pretty much made its own course into existence. I'd been knitting with Skeinz Silver Lining, a cardie for me which is still in the works and Toby decided that he'd like a cardie in the Red Triangle. In fact, he told me he wanted a big version of the Joey. This is a boy who knows his own mind and I'm glad he does as I probably would have knit the 8ply sample in Lily's size, and she is one girl who has more than her fair share of cardies already! Toby also is considerably smaller and I was pleased to see that the cordie did translate well to a boy's garment. 
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I think of all the cardies, the 4ply/fingering is my favourite. I love the lightness of this cardie; it's a very easy to wear garment for this time of the year and our climate. And the yarn I knit it in is really lovely. It's the new White Gum Wool 4ply and while it is quite a light 4ply, it knit up and bloomed beautifully. I really like this yarn and can see more 4ply knits in my very near future. 

All three of the Wallaby patterns are available for purchase in my Ravelry store either individually or as part of the e-book, A Court of Wallabies.

Would you like to win a copy of the e-book?

In this post I am giving away five (5) copies of the e-book to readers. All you have to do is leave a comment and tell me what your favourite collective noun is. At the end of this week on Friday night, I will give my kidlets the task of choosing their five favourite and they will be the winners.

Please take the time to read through the comments as the first to comment with a specific collective noun claims that one and any further comments using the same collective noun will be invalid.

P.S. If you've already purchased and then win, I am happy to refund the purchase price of the pattern/s.
Suzannah
19/1/2015 11:31:00 am

I love the look of this cardigan - I love that I'll be able to make one for my 5 year old boy as well as my 2 year old girl! He's been bugging me for one for a 'BOYISH' one for ages!!!
My favourite collective noun has got to be a bloat of hippopotamuses! I learnt that one of christmas day as we all sat around trying to recover from the lunch.. it was a very appropriate description of us all!!

Cherie
19/1/2015 11:33:26 am

A skein of geese :)

Amanda
19/1/2015 11:36:26 am

I like a parliament of owls.

And I'm also excited for a pattern my son will enjoy. I've been knitting lots of girly things including a very colorful Milo lately so it will be a nice change.

Delene
19/1/2015 11:38:56 am

A congregation of alligators

Megan E Adams
19/1/2015 11:40:42 am

Love your round yoke patterns and this looks so versatile. My favourite collective noun is a 'Parliament of Owls'

Julie
19/1/2015 11:41:37 am

A prickle of porcupines.

Rachael Drury
19/1/2015 11:43:59 am

A prickle of hedgehogs, which I know all about as I made 43 of them recently for my daughters quilt.

Emma
19/1/2015 11:44:02 am

I find a "murder of crows" rather creepy.

Casey
19/1/2015 11:44:31 am

A clowder of cats! Loving this pattern!

Ruth Heislers
19/1/2015 11:49:43 am

A smack of jellyfish, or my favourite, a drunk fish of cobblers!

Ruth Heislers
19/1/2015 11:52:55 am

Drunkship! Not fish. Lol.

Bel
19/1/2015 11:54:01 am

Gorgeous cardigan, yet again!

I love:
an intrusion of cockroaches (though, not literally)
a murder of crows (such a perfect description)

Michelle
19/1/2015 11:54:16 am

A bed of snakes! Eeek!
Because I tend to knit loosely I knit all your patterns in fingering weight. It is perfect for our warm Southern California climate.

Marie Biswell link
19/1/2015 11:54:20 am

I've always loved .. a gaggle of geese ..

tracey kenyon
19/1/2015 11:56:49 am

I like a cackle of hyenas, makes me smile
My nan used to call my cousins, siblings and i a crash of rhinos for all the mess noise and chaos we left in our wake

Candice H
19/1/2015 12:08:00 pm

Yay the wallaby cardigan is here! In honor of my 23 egg laying girls (and a Roo)... a clutch of chickens.

Katie Harold
19/1/2015 12:12:57 pm

an attitude of teenagers
Love your patterns

Kristy
19/1/2015 12:14:55 pm

A rhumba of rattlesnakes! I've already purchased because I love this pattern but felt like playing along anyway

Sandra Shepherd
19/1/2015 12:24:45 pm

With 4 kids of my own and their 4 partners and now 2 grandchildren I think the collective noun best used to describe us is ......
A bunch of family

Danelle
19/1/2015 12:26:58 pm

Hmm, I find a murder of crows one of the most interesting collective nouns.

Liz
19/1/2015 12:27:03 pm

A bevy of beauties :)

This is a lovely pattern - simple and classic!

Helen
19/1/2015 12:38:09 pm

I think a "destruction of feral cats" is sublimely appropriate.

I love the cardi!!

Daphna
19/1/2015 12:38:12 pm

A scurry of squirrels!!!

Chelsea Downer
19/1/2015 12:40:22 pm

I so love all of your patterns!
My favourite collective noun would have to be an impatience of wives ;) It just seems fitting haha

Erin
19/1/2015 01:00:46 pm

Love this cardi!! And my favourite is a 'Skulk of Foxes' :)

Alison
19/1/2015 01:12:40 pm

i was going to say a parliament of owls because a parliament is not at all wise, but that was already taken.

Then I found one of the, several, collective nouns for baboon- Congress- and decided it was equally fitting.

Becky
20/1/2015 11:21:20 am

Ahahaha!! That's good!

Cathy
19/1/2015 01:17:11 pm

a parade of echidnas.

maya
19/1/2015 01:24:06 pm

Beautiful cards! I love them.
I always liked zeal of zebras...

Judy George
19/1/2015 01:31:26 pm

Coming from Africa I was going to pick "a pride of lions", but I do so love the image that "a stand of flamingoes" conjures up in my head ;-)

Anne-Maree
19/1/2015 02:32:01 pm

How about a "squabble of seagulls" - evokes images of the way they carry on over a few hot chips at the beach! Love your patterns, and so do the little girls in my life.

Leanne
19/1/2015 02:47:37 pm

I love "a troubling of goldfish" because how can a goldfish possibly be troublesome?!? Maybe they are only troublesome in groups!

Elizabeth
19/1/2015 03:00:10 pm

A horde of gerbils. I love the contrast between the usual use of the word horde, and fluffy small gerbils.

Renee
19/1/2015 03:45:47 pm

Can't go past a box of chocolates! A box of chocolates, enough for everyone to enjoy xx

Janet
19/1/2015 04:00:12 pm

"Fold of Sheep" sounds lovely to me!!

Sarah link
19/1/2015 04:09:50 pm

I'll go for a pack of wolves, not funny but I do so lovd wolves...but I like sharks too know as a school as well as a shiver, though a school of whales is nice too :)

Rachael
19/1/2015 04:16:37 pm

A mischief of mice! Really hoping to make this cardy for my new school boy.

Linh
19/1/2015 04:22:25 pm

I think 'a mustering of storks' is an appropriate one as we're going for baby #3 :)

Nicole
19/1/2015 04:50:25 pm

I love that collective noun book too. I often walk past the Jennifer's shop in Hobart and I'm pleased she's doing well.
Gosh, so many of the good collective nouns are already taken. I had to look up some more - an army of foxes (or skulk or leash). I liked the idea of foxes marching in an army formation not scurrying about. Also a tower of giraffes, because they are just that!

Judy
19/1/2015 05:31:00 pm

I think 'a knot of knitters' is very appropriate.

Angela
19/1/2015 05:59:51 pm

Lovely cardi.

A wisdom of wombats ;)

dana bp
19/1/2015 07:54:57 pm

Love the new pattern.

A bloat of hippopotami

Dana
19/1/2015 07:57:58 pm

A trip of hares

Katie
19/1/2015 11:41:30 pm

I love the new patterns. My favorite is Cat Bordhi's "kindness of knitters". Although not in the dictionary, seems appropriate here.

Chris
20/1/2015 12:57:18 am

I love a bouquet of hummingbirds :-) It sounds so perfect to describe them. And I love this pattern - adding it to my queue now!

Sue Powell link
20/1/2015 02:22:59 am

it has to be that Not The Nine O'Clock New's
''Phlange of Gorillas''....

Pauline
20/1/2015 02:34:31 am

A flamboyance of flamingos!

Rachael link
20/1/2015 03:33:23 am

My favourite is a romp of otters, so perfectly suited (and otters are too adorable!)

mayal link
20/1/2015 04:50:53 am

"A pride of lions"
I love your pattern and your great job for the picture!

Lesley link
20/1/2015 05:05:30 am

Flange of BABOONS!

elsie
20/1/2015 05:14:45 am

I love a pomp of Pekingese.

Bought the pattern this afternoon as my next project.

Melanie
20/1/2015 10:30:32 am

I like a league of superheroes. Reminds me of shows I watch with my son.

Becky
20/1/2015 11:19:52 am

I know someone has already said this, but I have to add a story to it.
"A Parliament of Owls" - I watched the making of a Harry Potter movie (I forget which one) and the animal trainer said of all the animals he's ever worked with, owls are the stupidest of them all.
Which makes me wonder... why would we call the meeting place of our country leaders a "Parliament?"
Hehe :-)

Kirsten link
20/1/2015 12:27:23 pm

There are so many great collective nouns, aren't there?! Some of my favourites have already been mentioned, but I do love a mob of sheep. Sheep really do act in such a mob-like way, especially when something makes them nervous!

Natalie Pedersen
20/1/2015 03:37:53 pm

A memory of elephants is awesome :)

Ali
20/1/2015 04:25:34 pm

not the most imaginative, but definitely my favourite 'a flock of sheep'

Charlotte S
21/1/2015 06:41:18 pm

Lovely pattern! My favourite is a caravan of camels just cos I'm silly and like imagining a caravan full of camels!!

Katrina Knight
22/1/2015 11:17:38 am

Oh, it has to be a troup. I am mum to a ballerina, and she belongs to a troupe (French) of ballerinas dancing in pointe, (those shoes with wood in the toes). Then there are troups of Girl Guides and Boy Scouts, to which she belongs and I am a leader. I have offered to teach knitting to the girls in Guides, but their mums object to it...can you believe that! It's a issue with feminism gone mental....what in the world is wrong with knitting as a life skill and interest? They want girls who are powerful and can conquer the great outdoors. Trouble is, most of them would prefer the great outdoors if they can take their IPhone along and have their faces in that simultaneously....he he he. The world is going mad, so....STAY CALM AND HAVE A TIM TAM AND KNIT. Woohoo!

Julie
25/1/2015 03:27:27 am

I know that the deadline has passed, but my son and I were talking this morning and I thought of "gross". As in 144 (he's working in his 12 times tables). Is this a term you have in Australia? Anyway, just wanted to share.

Karen link
4/2/2015 11:23:44 am

Beautiful pattern. I've obviously missed the competition, however I couldn't pass by without complimenting you! It's lovely.

tracey
5/2/2015 07:01:42 pm

..


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