The autumn/winter 2025 season has crowned argyle knitwear—not as “grandad jumpers,” but as a fashion staple. Street‑style snapshots from London Fashion Week showed argyle jumpers, cardigans and tanks worn with tailored trousers, midi skirts, loafers or even vinyl trousers — reframing the pattern as contemporary and cool. (British Vogue)
Meanwhile runway collections for AW25 by designers including Khaite, &Daughter (our personal fave) and Miu Miu featured argyle knits layered under coats or styled with modern separates — pushing the classic motif into high‑fashion territory. In short: argyle is no longer “just golf club or grandad.” It’s this season’s knitwear comeback — heritage meets modern style.
What Is Argyle — A Quick History
- The pattern known as argyle — a geometric motif of diamonds (lozenges) often overlaid with intersecting diagonal lines — has its roots in western Scotland, specifically from the tartan of the Clan Campbell of Argyll.
- In the early 20th century, British brand Pringle of Scotland adapted the tartan into knitwear: turning the weaving on the bias, they transformed the checks into diamond‑shaped argyles — and helped popularise argyle jumpers.
- Over decades argyle knitwear evolved: once the reserve of golf, country‑club attire and conservative wardrobes, the motif has periodically reappeared — and now, it’s back with renewed energy, updated styling and broader appeal.
As a knitting pattern, argyle is most often realised using the intarsia technique (rather than stranded/fair‑isle), meaning you change yarn colours with separate bobbins so each diamond motif is worked in its own block — ideal for crisp colour transitions and clean geometry.
Why Argyle Is Perfect for Knitwear — Sweaters, Cardis, Tanks, Socks & Accessories
Argyle’s geometry and colour‑blocking make it especially suited to knitwear for several reasons:
- Visual interest & geometry: The diamond shapes catch the eye, creating movement and depth — far more dynamic than a plain‑coloured knit.
- Versatility of scale & placement: You can knit a sweater with a large central argyle motif, a full‑body diamond pattern, or a subtle stripe of diamonds across the chest — making it suitable for anything from bold statement sweaters to delicate tank tops or socks.
- Classic heritage + modern adaptability: The historic Scottish‑heritage origins give argyle a preppy, timeless cachet, but designers in 2025 are showing how to modernise it: oversized silhouettes, deconstructed cardigans, colourplay, layering, mixing with leather or tailoring.
- Great for layering and accessories: Because argyle knits often use intarsia, the geometry lies flat and clean — good for fitted cardigans, vests, socks, or even knit accessories. Also works beautifully under coats or over shirts.
- Comfort + style: As knitwear, argyle pieces are warm and cosy — perfect for autumn/winter — while still visually interesting and stylish, making them great for everyday wear or statement outfits.
Pringle of Scotland
Pringle of Scotland has been shaping the language of knitwear for more than two centuries, and their signature argyle remains one of the most recognisable motifs in British fashion. With the trend returning for AW25, it’s the perfect moment to revisit one of the UK’s true heritage brands and invest in a piece that blends craftsmanship, longevity and unmistakable style.
Patterns to Try: Argyle Knits at LoveCrafts
IHere are a few patterns at LoveCrafts — from classic sweaters to kids’ cardigans — that we might knit (when we have finished our multiple WIPs). Contains links.
All Too Well Argyle Sweater — oversized sweater with large argyle motif on back & front available at lovecrafts.com
Argyle Sweater by Sian Brown — tweedy aran sweater with all‑over argyle fair‑isle/argyle effect available at lovecrafts.com
Argyle Cardigan (Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino) — kids’ cardigan in soft baby yarn, with argyle motif available at lovecrafts.com
Neptune HIgh Socks in 4 ply yarn, available at lovecrafts.com
How to Bring AW25 Argyle Into Your Knitting (and Your Wardrobe)
- Play with scale & placement: Don’t feel you have to cover the whole garment with argyle. A single central diamond cluster, repeated smaller diamonds, or even a border of argyle motifs in a cardigan can look chic and modern.
- Update the palette: Instead of fuzzy heritage colours, go for moody blues, navys, greys, or even a splash of unexpected colour (given your liking for orange accents — imagine a navy argyle sweater with subtle orange or gold diamond highlights). This mirrors what we see in AW25 styling: updated palettes for modern wardrobes.
- Mix with contemporary silhouettes: Oversized sweaters, cropped cardigans, sleeveless vests — argyle works just as well on a vintage‑inspired crew neck as on modern, oversized or deconstructed knits.
- Offer variety: Because argyle adapts so well, you could offer patterns for classic jumpers, cardigans, vests, socks or even accessories — great for a knitting brand like yours aiming for “beginner-friendly but stylish.”
- Embrace layering and styling cues from the runway: Encourage knitters to think of their argyle knits not only as cosy garments, but as fashion statements — layered over shirts, paired with midi skirts or trousers, mixed with textures (denim, leather, linen), or worn as a subtle preppy nod rather than full heritage look.
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