Cozy Up with New England’s Best Winter Essentials

Cozy up this winter with the best of New England craftsmanship! From luxurious wool throws to handcrafted candles, find the perfect essentials to keep you warm and snug during the colder months.

Oh-So-Woolly Wear

Cashmere Shawls: Fans of actress Karen Allen will be doubly starstruck to learn that the iconic Raiders of the Lost Ark heroine is also a textile artist with a shop and design studio in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Via Karen Allen Fiber Arts, she sells a signature line of knitwear, made in-house. On her website, Allen explains that she uses fine Scottish and Italian yarns in 100 percent cashmere because there is “zero itch factor,” which makes this collection of light but instantly warming shawls a real audience-pleaser. karenallen-fiberarts.com

Shearling Slippers: On frosty days, you might find yourself wearing slippers more often than shoes—so why not invest in a solid pair? Continuing a decades-old legacy of footwear hand-sewn in Maine, shearling slippers from Quoddy check all the boxes: The outsole is nubbed for traction, the collar nestles ankles in warmth, and the signature Quoddy ESQ “Barefoot” shape offers more wiggle room for toes. And if you love these slippers a little too much, the Lewiston company offers a “resole and refurbish” service. quoddy.com

Light Touches

Tapers: While the name Mole Hollow might suggest these candlemakers are just down the road from Toad Hall, the company is actually located in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, home to the famed Old Sturbridge Village. Each taper boasts a custom-braided wick, linen-like finish, hand-fluted base, and a solid burn time of four to 10 hours, depending on size. Plus, when you buy a box of 12 it comes inscribed with the candlemaker’s name—a personal touch with a warming glow. molehollowcandles.com

Soy Candles: Nestled along Main Street in picturesque Peterborough, New Hampshire, is Grey Horse Candle Company, a husband-and-wife-led enterprise that whips up small-batch soy candles “for equestrians.” But their line of soothing/spicy fragrances—with names like Fresh Cut Hay, Spring Pasture, and High End Saddle—promises to inspire unbridled enthusiasm in non-horsey people, too. Each long-burning candle is made with wax from American-grown soybeans and comes in either a reusable glass canning jar or a handy lidded tin. greyhorsecandles.com

Oil Lamps: With its sleek mix of glass and shiny pewter, the Seaport Oil Lamp with 8.5” Globe brings elegance to any battening down of hatches. Made in-house at Danforth Pewter in Middlebury, Vermont, by a team of trained artisans, each fixture is rendered from raw metal into this useful and eye-catching object. Unlike silver, pewter never rusts or tarnishes, but instead develops a patina that only adds to its luster. The lamp holds three ounces of oil—that’s nine hours to you and me. danforthpewter.com

Comfy Coverings

Plaid Throws: Until the chance of snow has finally left the forecast (May, perhaps?), plaid-everything rules the Northeast—and you’ll find scads of the stuff at Johnson Woolen Mills, which has been outfitting outdoorsy Vermonters and their neighbors in rugged but cozy fabrics since 1842. The snuggle-ready Norris Wool Throw comes in rich solid colors as well as a variety of patterns, but we’ll admit to going mad for the Old Canadian Plaid, a jaunty mix of black, red, forest green, and cream.johnsonwoolenmills.com

Wool Blankets: As residents of one of the 10 coldest states in the country, Mainers know a thing or two about keeping cozy—which is exactly the feeling you get from the Swans Island Grace Winter Blanket, which the Northport company touts as its heaviest and warmest. Handwoven and hand-dyed using wool from nearby farms, each blanket is an instant heirloom. Order online or plan a field trip to the company store to scout for additional goods and yarn. swansislandcompany.com

Down Comforters: Time for a new comforter? The folks at Franconia, New Hampshire–based Garnet Hill have you covered. Not only is their Essential Down Comforter stylish (in 13 colors with matching piping), but the midweight spread is certified toxin-free right down to the thread and buttons. For in-person browsing, head to the retail store in Dedham, Massachusetts, or the outlet store in Franconia. garnethill.com

Braided Rugs: Braided rugs are having a moment, thanks to makers who are changing up classic palettes while adhering to the traditional techniques that make each one so durable. In Rumford, Rhode Island (original home of the iconic red can of baking powder), family-owned Colonial Mills turns out a basket-load of handcrafted braided products, from poufs and chair pads to rugs. Among the standouts: the multicolored 100-percent-wool Rustica line, whose rugs are reversible, stain-resistant, pet-friendly, and perfect for adding warmth underfoot. colonialmills.com

Tea Time

Teapots: A winding road near the University of Rhode Island campus will lead you to Peter Pots Pottery in West Kingston. Inside the old streamside mill turned studio and showroom, you’ll find displays of ceramic goods in a business founded by two Rhode Island School of Design students in 1948. Among these objets d’art is a signature teapotthat earns bonus points for being dishwasher-safe (and extra Ocean State cred for the color option Seagull Blue). peterpotspottery.com

Warm Fuzzies

Sheepskin Throws: Is there anything better than a home accent that works triple duty? The fluffy Sheepskin Throw by Maine’s Chilton is a locally sourced hide that can be used as a blanket, cushion, or small area rug. It’s deceptively easy-care and can be tossed in the washer and dryer (so no worries about cocoa spills). Drape over almost anything for effortless rustic-meets-luxe style.chiltons.com

Bouclé Pillows: Nantucket may conjure up visions of summer days and rose-covered cottages, but those who live on the Massachusetts island nicknamed “the Gray Lady of the Sea” know it has a wintry flip side. Enter Nantucket Looms, a studio, shop, and showroom selling a range of luxury handwoven textiles in a neutral colorway of sand and shells. Its Ivory Bouclé Pillow is a nubby-squishy confection ready to soften the season’s hard edges and bring a little lightness to gray days. nantucketlooms.com

Warming Pads: When you can’t bear the cold any longer, Maine Warmers in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, has just the thing: the Cozy Bear. This adorable woodland stuffy, part of the company’s Comforting Creatures line, is a warming pad in disguise. In its belly is a cotton muslin insert filled with whole corn (not the popping variety) that can be zapped in the microwave (or frozen, depending on fickle weather-pattern needs). Simple, portable … and oh so soothing. mainewarmers.com

Bed Warmers: Forget those fussy ye olde metal pans you may have seen in historic house museums. For those who want to get their bed roasty-toasty sans electric blanket, Vermont Soapstone Co. in Perkinsville, Vermont, suggests you consider a simple slab of soapstone. No fireplace to heat it? No problem. The country’s oldest soapstone supplier recommends using an oven or even a sunny windowsill before wrapping the stone in a towel and tucking it under your blankets. Sweet dreams! vermontsoapstone.com

Pet Beds

If your pet likes to cuddle up on your favorite pair of slippers, it may be time to outfit Spot or Whiskers with fleecy footwear to call their own. Enter the slipper-shaped pet beds from the playful designers at Old Saybrook, Connecticut’s Napping JoJo. Shaped like an oversize moccasin or mule with a faux suede exterior and a faux sherpa lining, each bed is made of 100-percent vegan materials. Even more of a warm feeling comes from knowing Napping JoJo donates to no-kill pet shelters and supports #AdoptDontShop. nappingjojo.com

Photos for this feature were shot at Sonder, the Home Garden Store, Peterborough, NH; special thanks to owner Katherine Forrest.