It depends on how OCB (obsessive compulsive behaviour) you are. If you cut the plaid, will it bother you if the pieces don’t match and if they are going in all different directions? I did only one quilt in Madras plaid and even keeping the pieces larger and trying to match the directions, I got a few off. It bugged me! I might pick a pattern like Warm Wishes where you could use the plaid in the big squares.