Lili Blumenau was student focusing on weaving and textile design with Anni Albers for the 1948 summer session. She was already a working weaver and educator and only came for a portion of the summer to work specifically in weaving and design.

Lili Blumenau attended the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts. She later studied at the Academy Scandinave in Paris during which time she decided to pursue a career in weaving and textile artisty. Graduating as the first woman student at the New York School of Textile Technology she went on to gain mill experience and in 1948 she began the weaving workshop at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York. In 1952 she founded the weaving department at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Design, New York, New York. From 1944 until 1950 she was curator of textiles at Cooper Union Museum. In 1955 she authored The Art and Craft of Hand Weaving, Including Fabric Design, which was published by Crown Publishers, New York City.

Blumenau published much of her work and teachings, and wrote a book titled "The Art and Craft of Hand Weaving (including textile design). Her works are in many major art museums, especially throughout New York, where she lived and taught for most of her life.

When the Albers' left Black Mountain, Anni began teaching at Haystack with Blumenau in the weaving department. Anni wrote on many occasions (in her book, On Weaving, in particular) she learned a lot from Blumenau and working with her made her want to continue learning new techniques.