Mystic Knotwork

America’s first knot shop still braids its trade in Nautical Downtown Mystic. The sailor knot bracelet has been famous here since 1957, and the range runs from nautical wedding décor to woven coasters and dog toys, all handmade from American-made cotton. Visitors often get more than a purchase: a child can pick colors and have a bracelet sized and woven on the spot, and a car-cup-holder coaster can be custom-made while you wait. The same knots also reach gift shops throughout New England, but the workshop itself is where the craft gets personal.