C2C Graphgan Blanket – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

· by · in Crochet Afghans & Blankets. ·

My husband and I have very different hobbies that we enjoy. Let me rephrase that – we have polar opposite hobbies that we are each completely obsessed with. I am an unapologetic crochet addict and he is fanatical about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It’s not often that crocheting and Jiu Jitsu collide with each other, but when they do it’s in a very big way!

jiu jitsu graphgan

Last month I tried Corner to Corner crochet for the very first time and I was instantly in love with this stitch pattern. As I was making that first C2C blanket my mind was already planning out how I could make a graphgan for my husband. He had been working on his Jiu Jitsu rank promotion requirements for a few months and I wanted to surprise him with a blanket that has his school’s logo on it.

So as soon as I finished that first blanket I jumped on to Stitch Fiddle and designed his surprise Blue Belt Promotion Blanket.Chart - Stitch Fiddle

 

 

The key word here is “surprise” – I only worked on this blanket when he wasn’t home and hid it away in a box when I wasn’t working on it.

This was actually a huge pain in the butt because I didn’t make nice tidy bobbins when I started working on this. I didn’t think I needed to because there were only three colors. Working off of full skeins became a tangled nightmare to stuff into a box every day. Lesson learned here – make up some bobbins the next time I make a C2C graphgan!!

Like I said earlier – our individual interests are totally different but we both pretend we are interested in each other’s hobbies just enough to not upset each other. I can identify a few of the common Jiu Jitsu moves and he knows what a granny square is. Other than some very basic things we both just smile and nod when the other is going on and on about the new things we’ve respectively learned or done.

bluebelt

This is where the story gets funny. When I reached the point where I only needed the blue yarn and was well into my decrease rows I was very anxious to get the blanket done. He had already had his official promotion ceremony and I really really wanted to give him his surprise. It was the weekend and I thought – the hell with it I’m just going to work on it out in the open. So I sat myself in my comfy crochet recliner and worked on the blanket – while he was sitting about 4 feet away from me on the couch! We spent the entire afternoon/evening watching TV and he didn’t notice what I was working on. Same scenario the next day – I was openly working on his surprise and he didn’t notice!!!! When I finally fastened off the last stitch, folded it up and handed it to him he said “WOW when did you do that!!!”

So to make a short story long – it’s a good thing that he doesn’t get overly involved or curious about what I’m crocheting. I can use it to my advantage when I’m working on surprises for him!!

Thanks for reading!!

~ Tami

49 responses to “C2C Graphgan Blanket – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu”

    • LOL that sounds like a fun project Hannah!! I should crochet a life size doll that looks like me and sit it in the chair with a crochet hook and see how long it takes him to notice it’s not really me. Hmmm actually it would probably only take him until dinner time to notice!!! LOL 😀 😀 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  3. What a great story! My SO doesn’t pay much attention to what I’m crocheting, except from time to time he will make a comment of “are you ever going to finish that?” or “I really like those colors.” It’s amazing how much can go on right under their noses without them realizing it.

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    • Thanks CJ!! It’s actually a blessing that he doesn’t pay attention to my crocheting because he also doesn’t notice the mountain of yarn that has been building up in my house!!! 😀 😀 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Too funny. You did a great job on the graphgan. Your husband’s a lucky fellow to have such a thoughtful wife.
    Thanks for the link. Stitch Fiddle is a very useful tool.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. It looks great 🙂 I have also noticed that in case of me and my boyfriend, some gifts I have made in secret and some (like editing videos for anniversary) I can make while being at the same room. But as we see each other on the weekends (long distance relationship) I can work on the surprises during the week.

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    • Thank you so much Nicola!! I love making things for him and it was especially nice because I was making him something that represented his favorite hobby. 😀

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  7. This is awesome! You’re so lucky to be able hide things you’re working on. I wish I could. The “is it done yet?” I get around here is getting old!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thanks Tony! I think that’s why I make deadlines for myself because nobody ever asks me that. It does work to my advantage though because he also doesn’t notice the mountain of yarn that has been building up in my house. At some point it’s going to be like a volcano because I’m almost out of places to keep it. 😀 😀 😀

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks Rebecca!!! That’s what I love about c2c it makes all of those little squares! And it looks like it’s way more complicated than it really is. I’m glad he doesn’t pay much attention to my crocheting. He always thinks that I’m counting so he knows not to bother me!! Which is funny because most of the time I’m not counting, but I’m not going to tell him that!! 😀 😀 😀

      Liked by 1 person

    • Oh thank you dear Cobs!!! I usually go about my business not even wondering if he notices or not but now I want to make a little game out of it. I want to purposely hide things right in front of him to see how much I can get away with!! What would we do without our delightfully oblivious men! They make our lives so much fun!! ~~ ❤ ❤ ❤

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    • Thanks Robin!! The look on his face when he unfolded it and saw the logo was priceless!! I think you are going to love C2C . It’s perfect for baby blankets because it works up quick. I watched this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeX1BiJih5s&t=1221s from Jayda in Stitches. With your skill level and experience it should only take you about 15 minutes to learn this. The increase rows are super easy and the decrease rows took just a few minutes more to get the hang of it. 😀 😀 😀

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks Kate!! It was all I could do to not laugh and show him what I was making while we were watching TV that afternoon. Next time I want to make a surprise for him I’m not even going to bother to try to hide it!! 😀 😀 😀

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks Kathy!! I had a good laugh over the look of surprise on his face when I told him I had been making it right in front of him! 😀 😀 😀

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    • Thanks Tracy!! I’m usually terrible with waiting to give gifts. I always end up giving it to him early. I was having so much fun making this blanket that waiting until it was finished wasn’t that hard. 😀 😀 😀

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    • You’ll do fine Robin. I actually just started one of the Christmas gifts that is on my list. I decided to go with a c2c blanket alternating red and white yarn so it looks like a candy cane!! 😀 😀 😀

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  15. Wow, Tami. That came out wicked sharp. All of my crochet projects are on hold this month. I’m trying to write 50,000 words in a month for the NaNoWriMo challenge. By the time evening comes, my brain is fried so I do a couple suduko puzzles and crash. I’m looking forward to grabbing my hook again come December 1 and finish the mandala. I see it every time I walk into the living room. It drives me bonkers to have unfinished projects lying around.
    Husbands can be so oblivious at times. I’ve worked on quite a few things over the years for Vic and he had no idea either.

    Liked by 2 people

    • That’s right its NaNo time!!! Good luck Lyn!!!! I actually put my mandala into a bin because it made me feel so guilty looking at it. I think I lost the passion for following the pattern, but I still want to work on it more. I may end up just free handing the rest of it. I’m letting it sit for a while till I decide what to do. I find it so funny that he is so oblivious because I’m constantly monitoring everything that goes on in my house. I notice the smallest things. I guess they have the luxury of being oblivious because we keep everything in check so they don’t need to worry about anything! 😀 😀 😀

      Liked by 1 person

    • I think you’ll really like C2C Yolanda – there are so many ways to get creative with it. I have at least another dozen graphgans I want to make!! Right now I’m making a blanket that’s on my Christmas to-do list using c2c. I’m alternating red and white yarn to make it look like a candy cane. The yarn has a sparkly thread through it so it’s really coming out better than I expected!! 😀 😀 😀

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      • You know I’m going to try to make some sort of doll, toy, Renaissance Faire thing, or phone case with this style, right? But if I do make an afghan, it will have to have a mermaid, fairy, or vampire scene on it! Even I don’t believe my own hype that it will ever make something so ambitious when I I’ve never even tried c2c but I sure love thinking about it. :-). A candy cane graphgan sounds so festive. I can’t wait to see it.

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      • Oh I have no doubt that you could come up with some AMAZING designs with this Yolanda!! I really can’t wait to see what you come up with. I think you’ll end up having the same problem that I have right now – too many ideas and not nearly enough time!! 😀 😀 😀

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    • Thanks Brenna!! The best thing about him being so oblivious is that he also doesn’t notice my out of control yarn stash!! Or maybe he does notice it but is wise enough not to make any comments about it!! LOL 😀

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  19. Tami, you are such a fun storyteller! I loved the next-to-last paragraph where you describe your covert operation! 🙂 And the wonderful human description of each of you loving your hobbies – reminded me of my husband and me, believe it or not! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Theresa and thank you!! I’ve been so busy the past few weeks!! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
      Having individual hobbies is so important. We have a lot of fun ribbing each other about how boring we find the other’s hobby. It’s fun and kind of a special joke because we usually end up surprising each other because we pay attention more than we let on. Well except for when I’m making him a huge blanket right in front of him!! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      • Yes, we did have a very lovely holiday, thanks Tami! Just quiet, the immediate family, and fortunately very little drama. I love your observation that with each of us having different hobbies and getting that satisfaction out of becoming more and more skilled at that hobby, it adds to the relationships we have. Fun!

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    • Dearest dearest Cobs – me and mine are all just fine!! I have been so busy with the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US and trying to get all of my Christmas crochet projects finished. I’ve been having a marvelous time with all of the pre-holiday madness!! Plus I will tell you a little secret – I just found out that I am going to be a grandma for the first time!! My daughter made me promise not to tell anyone for a few more weeks but I’m sure she won’t be reading the comments on my post so she’ll never know. Teehee!! I am beyond excited about the news and have about 5,000,000 projects to make for the new baby!! The precious bundle won’t be here until early July but I want to get a head start!!
      Thank you so so so very much for checking in on me! I should be back to normal posting and chatting in the next week or two!!
      I’ve missed you lots! Hugs ~ ❤ ❤ ❤

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