
In Ireland, I purchased a handmade scarf, which I still wear to this day. In Iceland, I purchased a traditional Icelandic earflap cap, which I wear every winter, because it’s awesome and extremely warm. In Scotland, I purchased a cashmere sweater which I bring out on the coldest days of the year. These things provide me with decades of warmth, and nostalgic memories, and there’s nothing else I can think of to buy when I’m abroad that offers as much value for so long.
Recently on my honeymoon, my wife and I visited Maine and toured from Portland to Bar Harbor and inward to Moosehead Lake and Carrabassett before turning back home to Ohio. One of the coolest attractions along the coastal drive is stopping at Swans Island Company in Northport, Maine, where they have dedicated craftspeople operating handlooms, where they’re dying and skeining yarn, and handcrafting an assortment of wool pieces. They make it all there in front of you, from blankets and throws to pillows, capes and mitts, as well as yarn and bags, and more.

Swans Island’s wool is very fine and soft, and the craftsmanship is very tight and intricate, creating a finished product that’s luxurious feeling and very warming, making it perfect for the cooler months. The Mt. Kineo throw is a very fine handmade product that features a tight knit with a dual color scheme that alternates toward the end, as you can see in my attached featured photographs. This is a fine souvenir from an amazing trip around the pine tree state, though beyond the wool, it will always be the seafood and the forests that sticks most in my memory.
If you would like to learn more about Swans Island’s top quality wool products, click here.
They also welcome visitors, so if you’re ever in Maine, be sure to stop by!