Erich and Connie Hahne, of Independence Township, show off mittens that have maps of Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas.

Michigan is the mitten state.

One doesn’t have to be a Michiganian to figure out why, but it’s the residents and travelers of the state who tend to take that similarity to the next level and use their hands as handy little maps.

“I couldn’t find anybody else who had made mittens with a map of Michigan on them,” said Connie Hahne, who, along with her husband, Erich, had the idea to do just that.

The Hahnes, of Independence Township, recently launched the sale of their Map on Hand mittens. Made of angora wool, the dark gray mittens have the outline of the state, as well as dots for some of the major cities and a star for Lansing, the state capital, printed on them.

The couple have a combined family of five children, ages 12-21, and two dogs. Erich works in the water conditioning business, and Connie previously worked in radio advertising.

“I always come up with these crazy ideas, and I talk to (Erich) about them and we don’t ever do anything about it. When I came up with this, he said, ‘I really think it’s a great idea,’ ” Connie said.

She calls herself the dreamer or creative one in the marriage, and Erich the practical one.

“I get it from my dad. My dad’s been an inventor all his life,” Connie said.

Though she’d had the mitten map idea for a while, it was Erich’s positive response, encouragement and help that got the ball rolling, Connie said.

“My husband is just very good at so many things, like designing this. He’s brilliant,” Connie said.

Connie shared her idea with Erich during a five-hour trip home from their cabin in the Upper Peninsula.

“If you’re holding up your left mitten, our cabin would be at about the first knuckle of your index finger,” Connie said.

The mittens became available for sale in December and are offered in adult medium and youth medium sizes.

“As we go along, we want to develop it further. We hope to have more sizes, fabrics and colors,” Connie said.

She also hopes to work with tourist destinations, such as Frankenmuth and Boyne Mountain, to have their locations and logos put on the mittens geographically. That way, the mittens would become reminiscent of particular trips and places people have visited.

The Hahnes decided which cities to include by choosing larger, well-known Michigan cities, such as Detroit, Grand Rapids, Traverse City, Sault Ste. Marie, Marquette and more that could be spaced evenly throughout the map, for design effect, Connie said.

“We both love the state of Michigan. There’s so much here for people, and so many beautiful places to visit. We want to help promote the state,” Connie said.

The mittens can be ordered online at www.michiganmittens.com or purchased at Olde World Canterbury Village in Orion Township.

“It’s right for every gift shop in Michigan,” Connie said.

The Hahnes are trying to get the mittens carried by gift shops throughout the state, she said.

They also are looking to find a Michigan company to manufacture their mittens. The Hahnes searched unsuccessfully before launching the product but haven’t given up hope that they can find a Michigan manufacturer.

“We’re both so pro-Michigan,” Connie said. “We really do want to work with somebody here.

“We’re just your typical Michiganders,” she added.