Brahms Mount

Visitors come from all over the world to tour and shop Brahms Mount, which has earned a reputation for weaving elegant blankets, scarves, throws, and towels. The Hallowell, Maine, company is known for creating designs that are rooted in history, and yet timeless. "There's a tradition of making things in Maine, of manufacturing things using your hands. Whether it's farming or fiber, Maine has this in its blood," says Claudia Brahms.

Visitors to Hallowell discover a beautiful, historical town on the Kennebec River, with a main street lined with restaurants and eclectic shops; a riverside bike path connecting it to Gardiner—where more shops, an arts center, and a rich history await; and Augusta—the state capital, home to the Maine State Museum and Old Fort Western; and beautiful preserves such as Vaughn Woods, ideal for a picnic and a stroll. 

Brahms Mount is just one of the many Maine businesses rooted in fiber. The Maine Fiberarts Tour Map, available at the Maine Fiberarts Visitor Center, in Topsham, is a must-have resource. It lists Maine's fiber-producing farms and fiber-arts producers, from raw materials, like roving and yarn, to finished goods, such as quilts and blankets. The center, which has a gallery displaying fiber art in rotating shows, is a good resource for information regarding everything fiber-related in Maine, including agricultural and craft fairs and festivals, workshops and classes, galleries and shops, and the annual Fiber Frolic.