How to Crochet a Race Car Track

Children will enjoy racing cars and motorcycles on a crocheted race car track.

Crochet's versatility makes it an ideal craft for creating offbeat toys and accessories for kids---such as race car tracks. While the "bumpiness" of the stitches makes a crocheted racetrack unsuitable for racing small, die-cast metal cars, a play mat or rug with a racetrack design will provide hours of fun for younger kids with larger toy cars. The racetrack uses only chain and single crochet stitches, but the color changes and increases make it a moderately challenging project for intermediate crocheters.

Things You'll Need

• 1 black worsted weight yarn, 8 oz skein
• 2 green worsted weight yarn, 8 oz skeins
• Crochet hook, size G
• Small amount of white yarn
• Tapestry needle

Instructions

1. With green yarn, chain 21 stitches for the center of the racetrack.

2. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook. Work 1 single crochet in each single crochet for 19 stitches. Chain 1. In the last stitch, work single crochet, chain 1 three times.

3. Working on the other side of the foundation chain, work 1 single crochet in each chain to the last stitch. Chain 1, then work single crochet, chain 1 three times in the final stitch. Slip stitch into the first single crochet to join the row into a round. From this point on, work in rounds, joining all rounds with a slip stitch.

4. Chain 1. Single crochet in each single crochet and work single crochet, chain 1, single crochet (increased 1 stitch) in each chain 1 space for the entire round.

5. Work 8 more rows as established in green yarn. For next row, cut green yarn, but do not pull it through the loop. Pull up a loop of black yarn to switch colors. Work the first few black stitches over the end of the green yarn to bury it. Continue working in black yarn for 10 rows to create the road.

6. Switch back to green yarn. Work 12 rounds of single crochet in green, or until the track measures the desired width and length. Finish with 1 row of black single crochet as a border. Break yarn and pull it through the last loop.

7. With white yarn and tapestry needle, embroider "lanes" in the middle of the black race strip.

References

• Lion Brand Yarn: Learn to Crochet

Resources

• Made by Cynthia Rae: Racetrack Rug