About the Class:

Plaid patterns have a rich history, blending tradition and modern style with their classic intersecting lines and vibrant colors. In this class, we’ll start by creating them efficiently in Adobe Illustrator, and then we’ll use the Recolor Artwork tool to quickly generate multiple variations—perfect for creating beautiful coordinating patterns for your collections.

Plaid patterns originated in Scotland, where they were traditionally linked to different clans or regions. Over time, they evolved into a diverse range of styles, each with distinctive characteristics and names. Today, plaid remains a popular design choice worldwide, appreciated for its versatility and timeless appeal.

Some of the most iconic types of plaids include:

Traditional Tartan Plaid: Classic patterns with historical significance.
Windowpane Plaid: A minimal design with thin lines resembling windowpanes.
Houndstooth Plaid: A bold, jagged pattern often seen in fashion.
Glen Plaid: Subtle patterns popular in tailoring.
Madras Plaid: Bright, colorful plaids with a summery feel.
Buffalo Check Plaid: Large squares, typically in two colors.
Gingham Plaid: A simple, fresh design of equal-sized checks.
Tattersall Plaid: Fine, evenly spaced lines creating squares.
Prince of Wales Plaid: A refined and layered design.
Shepherd’s Check Plaid: A small, uniform pattern.
Black Watch Plaid: A dark, traditional Scottish tartan.
Dress Stewart Plaid: A festive and colorful tartan.
Robertson Plaid: A striking tartan with red as its dominant color.

These diverse styles make plaid endlessly versatile for design collections.

Hi everyone!

I’m Geetanjali, an artist, illustrator, and surface pattern designer based in Goa. Over the last eight years, I’ve designed patterns for clients, licensed them to brands, fabric companies, and sold my designs online on print-on-demand sites like Spoonflower.

Today, I’m excited to guide you through creating a versatile Plaid pattern using Adobe Illustrator. This class is perfect for beginners and intermediate students, and I’ll walk you through each step so you can easily follow along.

What you will need:

Computer or Laptop
Adobe Illustrator Subscription ( Free Trial )

In this short class, I’ll walk you through the process of designing a plaid pattern with a twill weave texture and show you how to create multiple color variations using Adobe Illustrator.

Lisa McKinney

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