Lori Ihnen is a professional fashion designer of both hand-knit and sewn clothes, with a degree in clothing design from the University of Minnesota. She specializes in designing intricate stranded designs, often inspired by nature, and her hand-work is so intricate and precise that it is often mistaken for machine-produced knitting. Her designs have also been published in other books, including Top Notch Knits and Bags, a Knitters Dozen, A Garden Stroll: Knits Inspired by Nature, and the video Fair Isle without Fear. She also designs for magazines, including Vogue Knitting, Family Circle Easy