GUIDELINES FOR FABRIC
maintenance - DAily cleaning/stain removal
Regular cleaning and maintenance is important in order to keep upholstery looking its best and to prolong its life. Dust and dirt wear the textile and reduces its fire-retardant properties. For daily cleaning, vacuum frequently on medium power, ideally every week. Remove wet stains by carefully dabbing with a lint-free cloth or sponge wrung in warm detergent free water. If the stain remains, we recommend the chemical dry cleaning product K2R: www.k2r.de.
No other chemicals or detergents can be used. This also applies to steam cleaning. WARNING! Do not rub the material with force. This could damage the fabric and cause loss of colour. No upholstered furniture should be exposed to direct sunlight.
sewing - preparations
Sewing is an important element when Fritz Hansen’s upholstered furniture is being manufactured. Before the actual sewing process can begin preparatory work is done on the furniture. In the first step, the upholstery for the front of the furniture is glued and stapled onto the furniture’s shell.
Example: Stapled front-upholstery
When the upholstery on the back of the furniture is to be mounted, it will at first be tightened with heavy staple needles. The tightening is done until the upholstery sits completely tight and smoothed on the furniture.
Example: Tightening of the back-upholstery
Finally, the upholstery is adjusted into place with pins, and then the furniture is ready to be sewn. The pins will leave holes in the upholstery when they are finally removed. Note, therefore, that this is a natural part of the furniture.
Example: Adjustment of upholstery with pins
sewing - how the sewing is done by hand
The furniture is handsewn with a curved needle. The curved needle is used for different sewing techniques which are used in the upholstery of the various furniture. With the curved needle a traditional hidden seam is made - either with or without piping. The stitching appears slightly wavy, which is a clear proof that the furniture is handsewn. Note that the sewing technique with piping is primarily used for upholstery of leather.
Example: Sewing with piping
Example: Sewing without piping
sewing - where there’s sewn by hand/machine
The sewing of the upholstery is done both by hand and by machine. On some furniture there is a direct transition between the machinesewn part and the handsewn part. The transition between the two methods is clearly visible and is completely traditional. The transition is, for example, visible on the cover of the seat cushion for the Egg™ (see bottom photo). The cushion is primarily sewn by machine but there is a seam on the back of the cushion which is made by hand.
Example: Sewing by hand with a curved needle
Note, therefore, that there will always be a difference in the seam when the handsewn part meets the machinesewn part.
Example: Transition from machine to hand