For years twice a week ladies would get together at someone’s home and create beautiful hand made quilts. Most of those women were all members of the United Methodist women, locally called the Ocracoke Women’s society. The money they received from making quilts was given to the Methodist church. The women not only made quilts from scratch but also repaired old ones, or completed unfinished ones.
Even though most of the "older" ladies who were part of the Women's Society have passed on there is still a group of women who call themselves the Ocracoke Needle and Thread club who still make quilts for raffles for the church, school, preservation society or who ever might need a helping hand by selling their quilt. They also make the traditional "Cracker" quilt pattern potholders and other items for the Ocracoke Preservation Society to sell in their gift shop.
The "Cracker" pattern was a favorite of the women on the island in the 30's and 40's and it was thought it was an original pattern just to Ocracoke but research found out it came from "Colonial times." The "cracker" pattern consists of eight pieces per square. Four rectangular stripes form a smaller, center square. One of the two inside stripes is always red, either solid or a print. The corner triangles are always the same fabric, often pale pink, blue or yellow. Together, they make a larger square. Adjacent squares are turned at an angle to lend excitement to the overall quilt pattern.
Each year the Ocracoke Preservation Society is lucky enough to get a donated quilt from the Needle and Thread Club ladies to raffle off. Be sure and check out this years quilt.
