Guide

How to design a woven plaid

Build a repeat that reads well on the garment and gives the mill a clear starting point.

1. Start with the garment and scale

Decide whether you are designing a small shirting check, a larger overshirt plaid, or another application. Set the intended finished repeat size before judging the pattern. A repeat that looks balanced on screen can look very different on a pocket or sleeve.

2. Add your yarn colors

Open the studio and choose New plaid. A new design starts with one yarn color. Add the colors your brief needs and assign Pantone TCX references where available. Give each color a clear role: ground, secondary band, or accent.

3. Build the yarn sequence

Use the Yarn sequence controls to set each band’s color and thread count. Set the warp and weft deliberately: matching sequences create a balanced arrangement; different sequences create directional variation. Check the full repeat at its boundaries.

4. Choose weave and physical density

Select the weave appropriate to the design, then review ends per inch (EPI) and picks per inch (PPI) with your mill. The preview shows the design direction; it does not establish that a specific yarn and construction can be manufactured.

5. Save and compare

Name the design and save it. Review the repeat at more than one scale, then develop colorways without changing the construction. Reopen the saved design to confirm you kept the intended version.

6. Export for review

Use Export to download the repeat or a pattern sheet. Check the yarn sequence, TCX references, density, weave, repeat dimensions, and revision information before sharing it. Follow the mill review checklist before sampling.