Anthea Willis

Patterns available as Ravelry Downloads

Knitting: Cowl
What better way to celebrate mid winter than with a cosy, colourwork cowl in gentle plant dyed colours? For the Advent Flower Cowl I have combined a selection of traditional Fair Isle motifs, added braided detail and coloured corrugated rib for extra interest with beautiful British wool, naturally dyed by Nellie and Eve in her studio in Wales. ...
Knitting: Pullover
A Gansey is a hard wearing, hand knitted woollen jumper made and worn by seafarers and fisher folk for centuries. Characterised by textured stitch patterns and tight, close knit stitches on small needles which created a firm fabric to protect the wearer from the worst of the weather, they are a practical and versatile garment.
Knitting: Cowl
A frothy lightweight cowl worked in luxurious laceweight wool, just perfect for spring layering.
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
Knitting: Fingerless Gloves, Mittens
Knitting: Mid-calf Socks, Ankle Sock
Gansey is the name given to the hand knitted sweaters traditionally worn by fishermen of the 19th and 20th centuries that featured intricate, often geographically unique stitch patterns. They were usually seamless and knitted in tight spun wool on small needles to produce a sturdy, weather resistant garment that kept the wearer warm and dry in ...
Knitting: Cowl
I never thought I was a particularly huggy person but if there’s one thing the pandemic has taught me it’s that, actually, I AM a huggy person and boy do I miss hugs!?
Knitting: Mid-calf Socks
Shinrin-yoku is Japanese for forest bathing and simply means taking a walk amongst trees; allowing yourself to fully embrace the spirit of the place; to open up your senses and breathe in the atmosphere of the forest.
Knitting: Cowl
I am trying a new Pay What You Can Afford model.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
I am trying a new Pay What You Can Afford model.
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
I am trying a new Pay What You Can Afford model.
Knitting: Pullover
I am trying a new Pay What You Can Afford model.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
I am trying a new Pay What You Can Afford model.
Knitting: Ankle Sock, Mid-calf Socks
Who would have thought that strips of tape, two metres apart, snaking around the supermarket carparks and showing us where to wait to be allowed to enter and do our weekly shop, would become a thing? But it has and it’s a thing we are going to have to get used to for a while at least. Not one for wasting time, I like to keep my hands busy whils...
Knitting: Cowl
I am trying a new Pay What You Can Afford model. I am very well aware that many people are struggling financially, ourselves included, due to restrictions in place to combat COVID-19 so I am offering a tiered pricing system in an attempt to make my patterns more accesible to those who want to knit them!
Knitting: Ankle Sock
“Spring forward, Fall back” A little phrase to help us remember which way the clocks change twice a year to make the most of those daylight hours. Here in the UK, at the end of March, the clocks go forward one hour, marking the beginning of British Summertime – although in reality it’s just a few days after the Spring Equinox.
Knitting: Fingerless Gloves
The forest is changing as winter makes it’s mark. The trees, only a short time ago so full of life, stand skeletal and frozen. Their once vibrant leaves turned brown, lay thickly on the ground, heaped in mounds alongside the pathway that meanders between trees, providing shelter for small creatures that hibernate during the cold months. Not eve...
Knitting: Mid-calf Socks
When the tide is out at Lynmouth Harbour a mass of huge chains are revealed; aged links with copper rust blooms, snaking across the ground, ready to anchor the boats in place when the tide comes in. They also provided the inspiration for the cables that twist their way down the Harbour Chain Socks!
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
Stardust is a pretty, crescent shaped shawl with an applied lace border. Star stitch panels add texture to the plain stocking stitch body whilst the traditional Shetland lace edging makes for a light and airy finish.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
I am trying a new Pay What You Can Afford model.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
Cobbled Streets is inspired by my wanderings around the old, back streets of Gloucester and the variety of textures that can be found there. Old stone and new, concrete and cobbles, wrought iron railings and cast metal manhole covers. A plethora of pattern just waiting to be knit up!
Knitting: Balaclava, Pixie Hat
I lost my heart to an Elf… it’s true (although I feel I must point out that the Elf in question was one of the tall, long haired, bow toting woodland variety. Not one of those annoying little bastards that inhabit shelves at Christmas!)
Knitting: Cowl
The Croft Cowl was inspired by the fabulous Croft Shetland Tweed yarn by West Yorkshire Spinners – a plump, soft aran weight yarn produced in association with Jamieson and Smith, the Shetland Wool Brokers using 100% pure Shetland wool.
Knitting: Cowl
I am trying a new Pay What You Can Afford model.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
The Beechenhurst Wrap is inspired by the beautiful wooded hills that surround my home in the Forest of Dean and named for a popular local beauty spot.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
The Midwinter Shawl is a huge hug of a shawl to wrap up in and keep those chills at bay!
Knitting: Cowl
A mega chunky cowl knitted using one single skein of super bulky pure British Wool for the ultimate in warmth and cosiness…
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap, Scarf
My son asked me if I could make him a triangle shaped scarf ‘like the ones you wear mum, but not so girly…’ Ever up for a challenge I created this cosy design – a top down triangular shawl with glorious garter stitch stripes and practical ties, essential for keeping the scarf in place during play! The Gap is formed by using reverse stocking sti...
Knitting: Scarf
Nothing beats that ‘waking-up-early-in-the-morning-to-a-blanket-of-fresh-white-snow’ feeling.
Knitting: Fingerless Gloves
These charming fingerless mitts are inspired by the beautiful area in which I live - The Forest of Dean on the English/Welsh border of Gloucestershire - and feature an all over lace pattern that resembles a forest stretching away into the distance ready for exploring and adventures!