AUGUST
TIP OF THE MONTH
Jennifer Grahovac shared how she enlarges personal photographs at OfficeMax, Staples, or similar print shops, using their blueprint-size printing option. This makes it much easier to create a large pattern for a rug.
When using a colored photograph, Jennifer suggested converting it to black and white to provide better contrast and make the images easier to see. Once the photograph was converted to black and white and enlarged to the intended size, she placed a grid fabric (or interfacing, available from Hobby Lobby or Zinck’s Fabric Outlet) over the photograph. She then used a black Sharpie to trace the images onto the grid fabric and highlighted the lighter areas of the photograph with white chalk. The grid pattern was then transferred onto the linen backing.
Jennifer also explained that you don’t have to limit yourself strictly to what appears in the original photograph. You can thoughtfully add objects or details that weren’t visible in the picture but were meaningful to the people or their story. Adding these personal touches can make the finished rug more than just a reproduction—it can become a visual keepsake that tells their story.
A second rug came about as Jennifer’s husband was fishing from his kayak when a loon kept making an appearance, becoming a welcomed guest during their camping trip. The loon wasn’t in the original photograph, but Jennifer added it to the rug to capture this special memory and complete an important part of their story.
Another personalized rug came about when Jennifer’s grandmother asked her to create a rug from a vintage photograph of Jennifer’s great-grandparents. To make the composition work better, Jennifer adjusted the rug design by first tracing her great-grandfather and then repositioning the grid fabric before tracing her great-grandmother, allowing the two figures to overlap naturally.
She wanted the finished rug to have the nostalgic feel of an old family portrait, so she chose an oval wooden frame to complete the vintage look.
But what about copyright?
When choosing an old photograph, poster, postcard, painting, or other image as the basis for a rug, don’t assume that something is copyright-free just because it looks old. The important question is whether the underlying work is in the public domain or whether you have permission to reproduce and adapt it.
Determining who owns the copyright to an old photograph depends heavily on when it was taken, where it was published, and whether the photographer followed historical legal formalities.
As of 2026, United States law draws a very hard line at the year 1931: All works published or released in the US before January 1, 1931, have officially entered the public domain. This means anyone can copy, edit, or distribute those pre-1931 images without permission.
Because U.S. copyright laws changed significantly over the decades, old photos fall into three main buckets based on their timeline:
* Published BEFORE Jan. 1, 1931: Completely copyright-free. They reside in the public domain due to the
expiration of the maximum 95-year U.S. protection term.
* Published BETWEEN 1931 and 1977: Highly complex. These photos required active manual renewals and a
visible copyright notice when published. If "the copyright wasn't renewed or the term of copyright has
expired," the photograph defaults into the public domain. If it was properly renewed, the copyright lasts for
exactly 95 years from the publication date. (Library of Congress Research Guides)
* Created FROM Jan. 1, 1978 onward: Standard modern rules. Copyright is automatic upon creation. It lasts
for the entire lifetime of the photographer plus 70 years. (Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov)
Once Jennifer transferred her pattern onto linen, she didn’t have much wiggle room to fit the rug onto her frame. To solve this problem, she stitched cotton fabric to the sides of the rug, preventing the gripper strips from pulling out any loops.
Now it’s time to plan the colors for the rug. Jennifer decided to use a monochromatic theme of sepia tones to replicate the look of an old-fashioned photograph. The wool swatch pictured with the rug pattern will match beautifully with the original photograph.
We can't wait to see the finished rug!
STAY TUNED...