Teacher publishes Icelandic guide to pearl stitching

Agatha Mist Atladóttir, a textile teacher at Stapaskóli, a school in Njarðvík, has published a book about pearl stitching, a handicraft technique she found little information about in Icelandic. The article was published by mbl.is.

The book, titled Perlusaumur, includes information about the technique, illustrated instructions and ideas for projects. Atladóttir is also studying to become a teacher at the University of Iceland.

She first began exploring pearl stitching while taking a textile course as part of her studies. Although she had previously worked with embroidery and other techniques, she had never tried pearl stitching before.

“I started experimenting with it and thought this method was wonderful,” Atladóttir said.

She later decided to write her B.Ed. thesis about pearl stitching and how it could be used in textile education in primary schools. Her research led her to publish the book herself after finding almost no similar material in Icelandic.

Atladóttir said pearl stitching is part of Iceland’s history and appears in the country’s national costumes. Her supervisor at the University of Iceland, Ásdís Jóelsdóttir, encouraged her to continue the project and publish the book.

Atladóttir first asked selected students at Stapaskóli to try the technique. As interest grew, she introduced it as a textile assignment.

She said students of both genders had shown enthusiasm for the work. They choose their own images, giving them considerable freedom to create projects connected to their interests.

Atladóttir places strong emphasis on allowing students to make their own choices. She said boys in particular show greater interest in handicrafts when they can decide for themselves what to create.