Stones
Sticks and stones; sticks and pricks. (The latter isn't as common.)
stones
Sing and dance.
Toss and turn.
The word that most commonly pairs with "sticks" is "stones," to form the phrase "sticks and stones."
Nuts and bolts.
Half a yard is 18 inches - however many sticks are involved.
3 sticks
Soap and water; soap and bubbles.
2 'sticks' of butter is half a pound.
I'm Scottish but I've never heard of this phrase. It may be from a Scottish town/city other than where I come from i.e. Glasgow.