8 Cozy Plaid Sweater Knitting Patterns for Fall & Winter
There’s something about plaid that just belongs in fall and winter. Whether you picture classic tartan, cozy cabin weekends, or a red-and-green Christmas plaid, it’s a pattern that instantly makes a sweater feel a little warmer and cozier.
And there’s more than one way to create the look with knitting! These plaid sweater knitting patterns use everything from stranded colorwork and slipped stitches to intarsia and simple knit-and-purl texture. I’ve rounded up eight patterns ranging from modern tartan sweaters to retro pullovers, including a couple of free plaid sweater knitting patterns, too.
If you’re ready to add some plaid to your winter knitting list, here are eight patterns worth checking out.
1. Plaid Sweater by Amy Gunderson
If you’re looking for a classic plaid sweater with a modern fit, start with this free pattern from Amy Gunderson. The sweater uses stranded knitting to create the blocks of color, then adds the vertical lines afterward with chain stitches for that unmistakable plaid effect.
It’s worked primarily in the round from the bottom up and comes in an impressive range of sizes from XS through 5X, with finished bust measurements from 36 to 72 inches.
The pattern calls for four colors of fingering-weight yarn, which also gives you plenty of room to play with the finished look. Try traditional tartan-inspired colors, warm autumn shades, or turn it into a Christmas sweater with a combination of deep red, green, cream and black.
Pattern: Free
Yarn Weight: Fingering
Sizes: XS–5X
Technique: Stranded colorwork with chain-stitch details
Ravelry: Plaid Sweater pattern by Amy Gunderson
Stroll Merino Wool/Nylon Knitting Yarn | KnitPicks.com
2. TARTAN Sweater by Beatrice Mase
This modern TARTAN Sweater has the look of intricate colorwork without actually requiring traditional stranded colorwork.
Instead, designer Beatrice Mase creates the tartan pattern using slipped stitches, stripes and short rows. The sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down, and the pattern includes both photo tutorials and links to video help.
The combination of sport-weight wool and mohair gives the finished sweater a soft, slightly fuzzy look that works beautifully with the more muted tartan colors shown in the original design. Of course, you could completely change its personality by choosing your own four-color palette.
With nine sizes and a 35- to 60-inch bust range, this is a great choice if you love traditional tartan but want a sweater that feels decidedly modern.
Pattern: Paid
Yarn: Sport weight + mohair
Sizes: 9 sizes, approximately 35–60″ bust
Technique: Slipped stitches, stripes and short rows
Ravelry: TARTAN Sweater pattern by Beatrice Mase
Yarn and Free Knitting & Crochet Patterns – Lion Brand Yarn
3. Retro Plaid Pullover by Therese Chynoweth
If your ideal plaid sweater looks like it could have been pulled out of a photograph from decades ago, the Retro Plaid Pullover may be the one to cast on.
Inspired by mid-century designs, this cozy crewneck uses a multi-color slip-stitch pattern to create its faux plaid design. Although the finished sweater looks complicated, only one contrasting color is worked at a time, alternating with the main color.
The pattern includes both women’s and men’s sizing, making this one of the most versatile patterns in the collection. It calls for worsted-weight wool, too, so the finished sweater has that substantial, warm feel you want from a true winter sweater.
I especially love this one in earthy heritage colors, but it would also be beautiful worked in a Christmas-inspired palette.
Pattern: Paid
Yarn Weight: Worsted
Sizes: Women’s XS–3XL; men’s sizing also included
Technique: Multi-color slipped stitches
Ravelry: Retro Plaid Pullover pattern by Therese Chynoweth
Yarn and Free Knitting & Crochet Patterns – Lion Brand Yarn
4. Pretty in Plaid Sweater by NeedleSmithKnits
For a completely different take on the plaid sweater, Pretty in Plaid combines colorwork with a dramatically oversized silhouette.
Rather than a traditional fitted plaid pullover, this design features a boat neckline and wide, winged sleeves. It’s the kind of sweater that makes the plaid itself feel modern rather than preppy or traditional.
The pattern uses DK-weight yarn and two-strand colorwork, and the generous shape makes this a great option for anyone who loves an oversized sweater.
Choose neutrals for a sophisticated winter sweater, or lean into the playful shape with a bolder color combination.
Pattern: Paid
Yarn Weight: DK
Sizes: S–XXL
Style: Oversized with boat neck and winged sleeves
Ravelry: Pretty in Plaid Sweater pattern by NeedleSmithKnits
5. Woman’s Plaid Pullover by Melissa Leapman
Here’s another free plaid sweater knitting pattern for the list!
Designed by Melissa Leapman for Cascade Yarns, this pullover offers a more traditional take on a knitted plaid sweater. The pattern uses three colors of sport-weight yarn and combines the plaid design with additional textural details.
This is a good choice for knitters who want a classic sweater rather than an oversized or especially modern silhouette. The original pattern uses Cascade 220 Superwash Sport, making the yarn selection easy if you’d like to recreate the designer’s version.
Or choose three colors of your own and make the plaid completely different.
Pattern: Free
Yarn Weight: Sport
Sizes: XS–1X
Skill Level: Intermediate
DK209_220SWSportPlaidPullover.pdf
6. Texture Plaid Pullover by Annie Lupton
Plaid doesn’t have to mean colorwork at all.
The Texture Plaid Pullover creates its grid-like plaid pattern with simple knit and purl stitches. That makes this one especially interesting if you love the texture of plaid but aren’t looking for a sweater that requires juggling several colors of yarn.
The sweater has a relaxed, boxy fit and is worked in bulky-weight yarn, so it should also move along considerably faster than some of the finer-gauge sweaters in this collection.
Even better, the pattern comes in 10 sizes with finished bust measurements ranging from 37 to just over 70 inches.
Pattern: Paid
Yarn Weight: Bulky
Sizes: 10 sizes, 37–70.25″ finished bust
Technique: Knit-and-purl textured plaid
Ravelry: Cora Plaid Pullover pattern by Annie Lupton
7. Plaid Pullover by Jacqueline van Dillen
If subtle plaid isn’t your thing, this one goes in the opposite direction.
Jacqueline van Dillen’s Plaid Pullover uses bold blocks of color to create an oversized plaid design. The colorwork is created using intarsia, giving the sweater a graphic look that’s quite different from the smaller checks in many traditional tartan patterns.
The construction is unusual, too: the sweater is worked sideways rather than from the bottom or top.
I’d choose this one if you’re looking for a plaid sweater that makes the pattern the main event.
Pattern: Paid
Yarn Weight: Worsted
Sizes: S–XXL
Technique: Intarsia
Construction: Worked sideways
Ravelry: #15 Plaid Pullover pattern by Jacqueline van Dillen
8. Tartan Sweater by Debbie Bliss
For the most traditional tartan look in this collection, finish with this classic Debbie Bliss design.
This is a cozy, oversized sweater worked in Aran-weight yarn with stranded colorwork and a warm turtleneck. The heavier yarn and traditional tartan pattern give it exactly the sort of cold-weather look that comes to mind when you think of plaid sweaters.
Unlike most of the downloadable patterns on this list, this pattern was originally published in the Debbie Bliss Milano book, so availability may be more limited. It’s still worth hunting down if what you really want is that classic tartan sweater.
Pattern: Published in Debbie Bliss Milano
Yarn Weight: Aran
Technique: Stranded colorwork
Style: Oversized turtleneck
Ravelry: Tartan Sweater pattern by Debbie Bliss
Want to Knit Your Own Plaid Design?
You don’t necessarily need a full plaid sweater pattern to add a little tartan-inspired texture to your knitting.
Our Tartan Weave Stitch creates a mock-tartan texture using knit and purl stitches. Try it for scarves, blankets, bags, sweater panels or other projects when you want the cozy look of tartan without traditional colorwork.
Choosing Colors for a Christmas Plaid Sweater
Plaid is perfect for holiday knitting because changing the colors can completely transform the same basic pattern.
For a classic Christmas look, try deep red with forest green, cream and a dark neutral. Burgundy, evergreen, navy and gold can create more of a traditional heritage tartan, while cream, camel and muted red give plaid a softer winter feel.
Need help choosing your colors? Take a look at our Holiday Yarn Color Inspiration for more Christmas and winter color combinations to try in your next project.
Holiday Yarn Color Inspo: Cozy Winter Palette – E K N I T T I N G S T I T C H E S
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No Time to Knit a Plaid Sweater?
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Let’s be realistic: a hand-knit plaid sweater isn’t exactly a last-minute Christmas project.
If you’ve fallen in love with the cozy plaid look but don’t have time to cast on another sweater before the holidays, you can always grab a ready-made version this year—and save one of these knitting patterns for your winter project list.
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Which Plaid Sweater Will You Knit?
Whether you prefer traditional tartan, retro checks, oversized colorwork or a simple textured grid, there are plenty of ways to bring plaid into your knitting.
And don’t feel locked into the colors shown in the original patterns. One of the best things about knitting your own plaid sweater is choosing the palette yourself. Go traditional, make it festive for Christmas, pull colors from your favorite tartan, or create something completely unexpected.
Now the hard part is deciding which one to cast on first!
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Save these plaid sweater knitting patterns for later!
