https://rachelcostelloknitwear.com/

Rachel Costello Knitwear, Kilkenny (2026)

28/05/2026

Your eyes are not deceiving you - it's actually me posting about knitting!! Just 'cause I'm not posting doesn't mean I'm not knittin'!! ;)

The important bits first:
My new Duotone V Tee knitting pattern will be ready on 18th June 🥳

Be sure to get on my newsletter list so you don't miss it and the subscriber launch deals. It's easy to miss things on IG so email is best!

•••••

My test knitters and I are working to put all the finishing touches on our tees and the pattern so it will be ready for you for summer knitting or proactive shoulder-season knitting!!

This tee has all the same design features as the Duotone sweater: double colour for contrasted marl or subtle blending; i-cord trims and shoulder detail along with the "faux" i-cord detail at the centre front and back; and easy to achieve gauge with a range of yarns (in weight, fibre and budget!)

The differences, however, are the highlights! Worked true top down this time with a V neck (not too deep!), with 2 sleeve views, and holding 2 strands of lace weight yarn (loads of yarn options at this gauge), the tee quickly reaches the round and round point and finishes with a split high/low hem. Then there is only the i-cord finishes - no ribbing, no sleeves!

Choose a summery version with silk or linen or go classic with Casta Lace hand dye wool from the fab and wear it almost year round, with exception of the hottest days! (Both shown here in Casta Lace 😍)

More inspo and details soon!!

•••••

Pattern:

Available: 18th June via Ravelry & RachelCostelloKnitwear.com

Yarn: Casta Lace held double

Pink/yellow is View A with a straight sleeve
Green/grey is View B with an angled sleeve

*100% NOT AI :)

11/03/2026

A few more shots of the details on the . I love i-cords (in case you didn't notice)! and the split hems are just 🙌🏼 And, whether you choose to go subtle/tonal or extra contrasty, these little finishing details make all the difference in a simple stockinette tee.

I have secured all my testers (unless there are any others out there with a bust of 140 - 160cm | 56 - 64in who wants to join? DM me) and we will start knitting very soon! I can't wait to start sharing all the cool colour combos 🌈

Pattern: Duotone V Tee (in testing)
Yarn: Casta Lace
Sample: Modelled here in a size 3, view B (angled sleeve) with 27cm | 10.5in positive ease

03/03/2026

TEST KNITTERS NEEDED // I need your help with my latest knitting pattern, the Duotone V Tee.

Do you like to knit garments that fit really well?
Do you enjoy knitting along and chatting with others who like to knit?

😊 I'm gonna go ahead and assume the answers to these questions and tell you that collaborating on a knitting pattern with a designer is the best way to achieve these AND the best way to improve knitting patterns and the standards we hold them to as a whole.

As it says on the tin, the Duotone V Tee has the same characteristics as my Duotone Sweater - a marled fabric with contrasting i-cord details. The tee is constructed very similar to the sweater version - a modified drop-shoulder - but this time round we are going top down, with 2 sleeve views to choose from. The oversized, boxy fit, does have quite a bit of positive ease, but you can easily size down to suit your ease preferences. Optional bust darts are written into the pattern, along with high/low split hems for a perfect, comfy tee fit. The tee is finished with i-cords all around - not a peep of ribbing in sight 😂

Suggested yarn is lace weight wool from the fab who has kindly offered yarn support for this test. However, stash shopping and alternative yarns are always in the cards for my designs. Mohair or suri, or silk or plant-based blends held double would be amazing or go rogue and use a heavy fi*****ng / sport weight yarn held single, with a contrast colour for the trims. Loads of options, I promise!!

The bullet points:
✦ 10 sizes (to fit busts of 70 - 160cm | 28 - 64in);
✦ 10 week flexible test ran via Discord;
✦ Tech edited, fully written pattern with progress charts for at the same time instructions;
✦ Mods encouraged;
✦ Yarn support available;
✦ You won't want to make just one ;)

APPLY NOW - Google Form link in my bio and stories.

PS. I've already closed off sizes 2 and 3, and 4 - 6 are very close to that point too. Don't wait to get your name down. I will start contacting ye all on Wednesday xx

26/02/2026

Hey pals, it's been a minute (or maybe months 🫣) but here I am and I've got news 🎉🎉🎉

This little number, the Duotone V Tee, is almost ready for a good ol' fashioned, quaint and cozy, test-along.

The very excellent news is the pattern has 2 sleeves options, so I'll be looking for a few more testers than normal, especially if you want to try some fun mods.

10 sizes (up to 160cm | 64in), top down, bust darts optional, v-neck, high/low split gems, lace weight held double on 4.5mm needles.

Oh, and the absolute best part is the yarn 😍 This lace weight wool from is called Casta Lace and it's just perfect. Wait till you see the colour inspo I am putting together. Oh and yarn support for testers too 🥰💪🏼LFG

So, in the spirit of making really f*ckin' good knitting patterns and for the love of marled fabric, make sure you get on my newsletter list so you don't miss the test call. (We all know only like 40 of you will see this post 🫠😬🫣😅)

Questions, comments, shares are always welcomed & appreciated 😊

(just for the craic - are hashtags out?)

11/10/2025

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome to the Cushendale Coat pattern 🥰

As an extra thanks every pattern purchased this weekend will included a 15% OFF discount code for wool directly from the source: here in Co. Kilkenny, Ireland ☘️

I can't wait to see all the fabulous Irish colours turned into woolly 🎉

What colour would you choose??? I think Cinnamon is next on my must-haves!

🧶

Irish wool yarn is like nothing you’ve knit with before, but once you start you won't want to go back ;)

The Cushendale Coat was born out of my love of Cushendale wool but also my preference to knit with non-superwash yarns and the challenge of taking untreated, rustic and local-to-me wool and turning it into something refined and wearable.

Cushendale 100% IRISH wool yarn is perfect for outerwear. The fabric is warm, strong and waterproof - an outer shell. But it is not next-to-skin soft. To contrast and accentuate these characteristics, and shift from “that’s too scratchy”, I have chosen a secondary yarn for use in this design, one that IS next-to-skin soft: silk mohair. I am using the silk mohair to create a classic quilted pattern on the outside and a lining of long floats of softness on the inside. With wear, the floats will felt to the inside of the wool for a seamless lining.

Cushendale wool is not soft and drapey like Merino or alpaca garments. It is woolly and tactile and warm. It feels like wool should! And I absolutely love it. Hopefully, with this new pattern, we can convert more of you to the woolly side!!

🐑

📝 The Cushendale Coat pattern is available on Ravelry & RachelCostelloKnitwear.com.

🏷️ Use the code IRISH15 to get 15% OFF the pattern and then download the discount code for your wool straightaway.

📨 Subscribe to my newsletter or check your inboxes for even more launch discounts.

09/10/2025

Say hello to the CUSHENDALE COAT 👋🏼

🔹🔹🔹

The Cushendale Coat knitting pattern is now available on Ravelry and RachelCostelloKnitwear.com

Use the code ✨IRISH15✨ to get 15% OFF the pattern now through Sunday only.

Further subscriber discounts will be hitting inboxes very soon. If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to avail of these special goodies ☺︎

🔹🔹🔹

The Cushendale Coat is a classic-inspired quilted coat knit in untreated, pure Irish wool from and luxurious silk mohair. The DK weight wool is firm and strong, ideal for outerwear. Pair this with a second lace weight yarn held double, luxurious and soft, and you get a coat with a woolly outer layer and a delicate inner layer. The contrast in fabrics is echoed in the all-over diamond pattern, creating a chic yet protective outer shell and a next-to-skin soft inner layer.

Worked from the top-down, the Cushendale Coat uses 2-stitch 2-colour cables to create the diamond pattern. The all-over colourwork pattern is simple to execute and very intuitive. The traditional set-in sleeve silhouette is constructed working the colourwork pattern both flat (upper body & sleeve caps) and in-the-round using steeks. Detailed finishing creates a truly luxurious and unique handmade coat.

I hope ye'll love it as much as I do 🤍

The pattern includes 10 sizes (70 - 170cm | 28 - 68in) with 2 body lengths, each fully charted along with written instructions, full schematic, construction and special technique notes and maps and visuals for steeking, sleeve shaping, and chart management. Written pattern and charts are in separate files and charts files are separated by size for convenience.

Sample modelled here in a size 2 (body) and size 3 (sleeves) using 'mid-charcoal' 976m + 'sparrow' 1152m

🔹🔹🔹

02/10/2025

Confession: I'm in a serious knitting slump 🫠

Moving house, renovations and summer; my body telling me sitting and knitting just doesn't feel good; not being able to multitask as well as I used to; brain power used for other priorities.... Knitting, designing and pattern writing is still on my mind, just not actually happening.

So (you may be asking) what?

Well, here's a list, because my brain still works in list form:

1. Thank you to all those who have been buying and knitting my patterns. Every purchase, or email with questions, reminds me how much I love making patterns and motivates me to continue, at my own pace.

2. Just cause I'm not posting all the time doesn't mean I'm not around. It's pretty noisy here, so adding to that noise isn't something I really have the energy for. I am going to push to get back to more regular newsletters and hopefully I can find some motivation to share some WIPs (there is actually a WIP ye haven't seen!!) and future plans. And, of course, new patterns....

3. And the main reason for this post, almost all of my 2025 knitting has been focused on my design the Cushendale Coat. This design is in collaboration with and inspired by the fabulous Woollen Mill. I still absolutely adore this pattern and this yarn. I've worked really hard to get this pattern written and charted (oh the charts!!!), and, my small group of resilient, brilliant testers have worked through this pattern helping me fine-tune, fill in missing symbols, generally helping me make sense (that's a chore in and of itself), as well as documenting the progress of this pattern much better than I have.

So, TLDR: I'm still here and I have a new pattern launching next week🤞so make sure you're on my newsletter list (link in bio) so you don't miss anything.

Next up I'll be re-introducing you to the Cushendale Coat, Irish wool, and why you need to make one 😊🤍

02/07/2025

It's been a long time since I properly shared a 🤩🍉 My Duotone V Tee is shaping up nicely if I do say so myself. The yarn, the ease and the V depth are exactly what I envisioned. I'm loving the fit and I think it will be even better after a good soak to even everything out.

I've still got some length to go, but it's pretty quick knitting. I'm thinking I might do a split hem... What do we think? I think it would suit the flowy fabric well. And it'd look fab with the i-cord finishing.

And even better news is I have a lot of the pattern written AND yarn (thanks Ross ) ready for a second sample.

📝 Pattern in development
🧶 Casta lace, held double

05/06/2025

DUOTONE V Tee // Same fun with colour combos and faux i-cords but with a few upgrades for the warmer months 🍋‍🟩🧶

This will be a V-neck, top down!, lace weight held double at an airy gauge, sleeveless drop-shoulder (but with sleeve shaping!) summer-ish top. And, as with the OG Duotone sweater, size up or down to get your preferred fit, and mix and match yarns for your preferred fabric. A foundational pattern to make a garment exactly how you want it 🥰

My here is very fitting as a Duotone KAL has just started, hosted by the lovelies at . Are you going to join & knit a with us? Visit SKS grid for details on how to participate & win prizes.

And huge thanks to Ross for gifting me these stunning skeins of Casta lace. This yarn is PERFECT for this airy tee. An absolute joy to work with. And his colours are👌🏼Truely something for everyone. Get some!

07/05/2025

📣 for the 📣

The Cushendale Coat is a DK-weight non-superwash wool coat with an all-over contrasting quilted pattern. The coat is worked flat at the start, top down, with fully fashioned / European style shoulders for set-in sleeves and then in the round from underarm to hem with steeks in place for opening and optional in-set pockets. Sleeves are picked up around the armscye and worked flat with German short rows for a sleeve cap, then in the round to the cuff. Finishing includes folded trims, shaped collar, cutting steeks and applying i-cords, in-set pockets and sew-in, invisible buttons.

I am looking for a minimum of 2 volunteer knitters for all 10 sizes (70 - 170cm | 28 - 68in) for a 12 week (flexible) test knit ran via Discord. There are only a few requirements:

1️⃣ You are willing to knit colourwork and cables FLAT ;)

2️⃣ You are willing to cut open your knitting

3️⃣ You are able to provide feedback on clarity and fit throughout the test knit

4️⃣ You are able to finish the entire garment within the 12 weeks

Yarn support is available for chosen testers direct from Woollen Mills here in Ireland. Yarn shipping has been factored into the test period. And, as with all my tests, you are more than welcome to sub in yarns. Modifications for fit are encouraged and I am happy to help with these.

Details regarding yarns & yardages, as well as sizing and a full schematic can be found on the Google application form. Application 🔗 in my bio & stories.

Any questions, big or small, just ask! Need help with sizing? Or wondering if a yarn combo will work? Leave a comment, message me, email, or pop over to my Discord and join the convo there 😊 I've already had a great response from those who got to apply early, so sizes are filling (or already full) fast! 🏃🏼‍♀️

Rachel Costello Knitwear

28/05/2026

11/03/2026

03/03/2026

26/02/2026

11/10/2025

09/10/2025

02/10/2025

02/07/2025

05/06/2025

07/05/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share