Anna Nikipirowicz was taught to knit and crochet as a child by her very talented mother, but without practice the skills were quickly forgotten. Ten years ago she rediscovered her skills and an obsession was born! She has not stopped knitting, crocheting and designing since. A few years ago she became Design Consultant for Rowan Yarns and a tutor for The Creative Sanctuary* and Rowan. Her work can be seen on television, most recently in an episode of Miss Marple, and her designs are featured in magazines. Anna is a keen blogger and with help from her partner David runs her website moochka.co.uk where all her patterns are featured. Frauke Kiedaisch is a textile designer based in Germany.

She studied at the School of Art and Design in Hannover and has worked for a number of women's magazines. She now lives in Hofheim and works as a freelance editor and designer for various yarn magazines and producers. Val Pierce's passion for knitting began when her father taught her to knit at the age of five. Later in life she began home knitting for yarn manufacturers, and since then she has made a huge range of items, from evening dresses to teddy bears. She later began designing items of her own, and before long Val's designs were appearing regularly in national knitting and crochet magazines. She also teaches knitting, as well as a range of other needlecrafts, to both adults and children. Val lives and works in Shropshire. crossedneedles.

co.uk Jan Ollis comes from a family of crafters and cannot remember a time when she was not creating something. Great Aunt Mabel taught her to crochet more years ago than she cares to remember, making 'granny square' blankets for a local hospital. After completing a degree in Fashion and Textile Design and working in a range of textile and non-textile related jobs, Jan started Chi-Chi Moi - a small business making accessories in hand knitting and crochet. One successful early product was a flower corsage, which was so popular Jan made and sold 800 (with help from her family and friends). Jan lives in Somerset, UK with her partner Ben and has two grown-up children, Dominic and Milly. Visit Jan's website chichimoi.co.

uk/ May Corfield was taught to crochet as a child by her mother and hasn't stopped since. She is an experienced editor who has worked on a variety of craft books and enjoys making all things crochet in her spare time. She loves the versatility of crochet, the different effects you can achieve with the wide range of yarns available, and the variety of different stitches you can employ - and the fact that, if you 'drop' a stitch, it's only the last stitch you made that is affected.