Kvadrat Febrik sewing guide
Knitted fabrics are very different from woven fabrics in their construction and they cannot be sewn in the same way. Please follow sewing guidelines for knitted textiles
Arda is a knitted upholstery textile which recreates complex natural forms, structures, surfaces, and colours found deep in the wild. It is part of a design project entitled Design by Nature led by Sofia Lagerkvist and Anna Lindgren from the Swedish design studio Front.
The tapestry-like expression of Arda changes to reflect the environment where it is situated. In this way, like the fluid experience of nature, the textile reveals surprising nuances and characteristics as its surroundings, or the conditions change.
Arda is crafted to minimise its impact on the natural environments that it mimics. It is primarily constructed from natural woollen yarn – a renewable resource – using an innovative manufacturing process. A technique that, compared to conventional methods, reduces water consumption by between 80 to 95 per cent.
Arda is suitable for upholstery and vertical applications. Consequently, it is ideal for contract as well as residential usage.
EN ISO 12947
The Martindale method is the most widely used method for testing upholsteries for abrasion resistance. During testing the fabric is rubbed against a standard wool textile with a given weight-load applied. Running at intervals of 5.000 circular rubbing motions, the test continues until two threads are worn.
Minimum requirements
Private and low traffic public areas: 10.000 – 15.000 rubs
High traffic private and office spaces: 15.000 – 25.000 rubs
Public spaces and transportation: 25.000 – 45.000 rubs
Durability test results exceeding ACT performance guidelines (> 40,000 rubs) are not an indicator of product lifespan. Multiple factors affect durability and appearance retention.
EN ISO 12945
Pilling is the term used to indicate whether small balls of fibres, known as pills, form on the surface of the fabric due to wear.
It is evaluated on a scale from 5 (best) to 1 (worst).
ISO 105-B02
Lightfastness relates to the ability of a textile to retain its colour under light. When testing for lightfastness, samples are exposed to artificial daylight for a specified period.
The evaluation scale ranges from 1 (worst) to 8 (best). An increase of one point corresponds to a doubling of the lightfastness, i.e. the same fading takes twice as long.
Flame retardant performance depends on the type of foam used. There are differing requirements concerning the flame-retardancy of textiles dependent on the area of application, country or even region. Our textiles pass the majority of international standards and are also tested for a selection of regional requirements.
ISO 105-X12
The term for determining the resistance of the textile’s colour to rubbing off and staining other materials. A distinction is made between wet and dry rubbing.
It is evaluated on a scale from 5 (best) to 1 (worst).
EN ISO 9053-1
Airflow resistance influences the sound absorbing qualities of a textile. Typically, the denser the construction of the textile, the higher the value.
EN ISO 354
Acoustic absorption is indicated as αw-value which approximately corresponds to the percentage of sound absorbed. For instance, an αw-value of 0,4 translates into 40% absorption of sound. Acoustic absorption of a textile is measured in its flat and draped state.
Knitted fabrics are very different from woven fabrics in their construction and they cannot be sewn in the same way. Please follow sewing guidelines for knitted textiles
Regular cleaning is important in order to keep the upholstery textile looking its best and to prolong its life. Dust and dirt wear down the textile and also reduce its fire-retardant properties.
Regular cleaning is important in order to keep the upholstery textile looking its best and to prolong its life. Dust and dirt wear down the textile and also reduce its re-retardant properties. Vacuum frequently, ideally every week, at half power where appropriate. Wipe upholstery fabrics made from polyurethane with a dry or moist cloth. May also be vacuum cleaned with a soft brush.
If you act quickly, it is not difficult to remove spills and prevent stains from forming. However, we cannot guarantee complete stain removal. First, scrape off any liquids or hardened residues with a spoon or a scoop before you proceed. Any loose particles must be vacuum cleaned before further cleaning. Liquids must be soaked up with an absorbent napkin or cloth. Remove non-greasy stains by carefully dabbing with a lintfree cloth or sponge wrung out in warm water. Edge marks can be avoided by dabbing gently in circular motions towards the centre of the stain with a clean lint-free cloth. Remove greasy stains by using appropriate detergents or solvents. In all cases, we recommend to test stain-removal agents on an inconspicuous area first, to see if there is any effect on the cover. Make sure to dry the fabric fully before use. It may also be necessary to use a hairdryer to avoid leaving edge marks. This applies especially to microfibre textiles. These tips are purely recommendations and cannot guarantee complete stain removal. In all cases, we recommend contacting a professional dry cleaning. In order to ensure satisfactory results, particularly for large stains, we recommend to contact a professional dry cleaner. It is important to state whether the stain has already undergone treatment.
Regular maintenance and cleaning removes dirt before it settles in the fabric and damages the fibres. Appropriate maintenance and regular cleaning can prolong the textile’s life cycle and reduce costs for renovation and repair, replacement and disposal. Extraction cleaning/carbonated cleaning is meant for major deep cleaning to be performed only when necessary. pH neutral carbon dioxide solutions are recommended as soap should not be used. It is important to use a suitable mouthpiece for upholstery fabrics as extraction cleaning is useable for both upholstery and rugs. Make sure to let the fabric dry fully before use. If the textile is glued attention must be paid to the temperature of the cleaning agent, max. 55-60°C is recommended. It is also important to avoid excess use of cleaning fluid, do not saturate the textile. If the fabric is very dirty it might be necessary to repeat cleaning. We do not recommend a steam cleaner as the steam will force dirt deeper into the textile and will move up to the surface later. Due to excess dye in jeans, dark jeans may leave stains on textiles; cleaning may not always lead to satisfying results.
We do not recommend impregnation of woollen upholstery fabrics, as wool itself is dirt-repellent. Impregnation of fabrics made from 100% Trevira CS should be avoided since it decreases the fabric’s permanent flame-retardant attributes.
Removable covers made from Trevira CS can be machine washed at maximum 40/60°C. Moreover, it is possible to wash certain cotton fabrics and micro-fibre textiles. Removable covers made from wool cannot be washed but should be dry cleaned. Use washing detergent designated for coloured textiles and obey the dosage. Wash the fabric inside-out and load only half on the machine. Spin-dry the fabric with decreased speed. The covers should be dried while suspended and mounted or applied while still slightly damp in order to ease the process. Not all covers with zippers are designed to be removable. Please ask the furniture manufacturer. We recommend contacting a professional dry cleaner for especially huge covers.