For generations, Ocracoke’s isolation bred extraordinary craftsmanship. When you needed something on the island, you made it yourself—and made it to last. Today’s artisans continue these time-honored traditions while creating contemporary works that capture the island’s unique character.

Decoy Carving: Perhaps no craft is more quintessentially Ocracoke than decoy carving. The Ocracoke Island Decoy Carvers Guild, founded in 2018, keeps alive a tradition that stretches back generations. Island carvers like Vince O’Neal, Dave O’Neal, and Spencer Gaskins create both functional hunting decoys and artistic pieces using traditional methods passed down through families.

Ocracoke decoys have a distinctive style—”somewhat primitive, but stylish, and not a whole lot of detail,” as master carver Vince O’Neal describes them. The famous “root head” technique uses fallen island cedar trees for the head and neck, creating decoys that perfectly captured waterfowl for the abundant hunting that once helped feed island families.

Quilting Heritage: Island women have gathered for quilting bees for generations, creating both practical bedcovers and works of art. The distinctive “cracker” pattern—with its eight-piece squares featuring red stripes and pale corner triangles—was found only on Ocracoke during extensive North Carolina quilt documentation in the 1970s. Today’s quilters still meet weekly, continuing traditions started by accomplished seamstresses like Tressie Howard, who made quilts and bonnets for sale from her School Road home.