Crochet Racetrack - Portable Toddler Toy

Portable Toddler Race Track in Crochet

Declan & Mommy playing with cars.

I recently made this racetrack for my adorable nephew for his first birthday. The first time I made it, I used the idea another Pinterest user had to 'make it just a toy' - instead of using the entire original rug pattern that gave birth to this idea. You will find the original rug pattern and toy idea here - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/411797959673317708/ (And thanks so much to Cynthia Rae for taking the time to convert the original pattern to single crochet for us!)

However, when I was almost finished, I realized that the pattern was for smaller 'hot wheel' size cars; and my nephew will usually be playing with larger, toddler-size cars for a while. So, I took it apart and started over - doing that was way harder than I thought it would be, LoL! (Note that while I generally-followed the original pattern above, I re-wrote the instructions to be easier to follow [for me]; and corrected it in a few places that the original 're-writer' missed. It happens. ;)

But, I was finally able to work it all out... Not only is this racetrack wider for toddler cars, it is also 20 stitches longer on each side. Total measurements are roughly 36" x 18". It folds up easily enough to take to grandma's house, the park, the beach or wherever.

TODDLER RACETRACK CROCHET INSTRUCTIONS

I used a size J crochet hook, white yarn and roughly 420 yards of black yarn. There are also some really nice options for variegated grey yarns that would look great; but since this was for a one year old, I stuck with the high contrast of black & white.

Your Choice: I did not chain 1 when starting a new row as would normally be the case. I stitch into the SAME stitch as the slip stitch - and count it as my first stitch, then mark it to maintain consistency. I started every row this way. (Optionally: Follow the original instructions for new rows. That style always turns out 'twisty' for me, ha!)

Another Choice: I combined these first two rows using the single crochet foundation chain - easier and prettier, for me, anyway. (I highly-recommend taking the time to learn this stitch if you haven't already.)

Rnd 1; Using white yarn, chain 214. Join with sl st to first sc.

Rnd 2: Sc in each chain around. (214 sts)

Switch to black yarn.

Rnd 3: sc in first 4 sc (reminder - starting in the slip stitch if you are following my version of the pattern), 2sc in next sc, sc in next 10 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 84 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 10 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 84 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc, join with sl st to first sc (220 sts)

Rnd 4: sc in first 8 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 11 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 85 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 11 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 85 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, join with sl st to first sc (226 sts)

Rnd 5: sc in first sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 12 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 86, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 12 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 86, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 11 sc, join with sl st to first sc (232 sts)

Rnd 6: (sc in next 13 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 87 sc, 2sc in next sc (sc in next 13 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 87 sc, 2sc in next sc, join with sl st to first sc (238 sts)

Rnd 7: sc in next 7 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 14 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 88 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 14 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 88 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 7 sc, join with sl st to first sc (244 sts)

Rnd 8: (sc in next 15 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 89 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 15 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 89 sc, 2sc in next sc, join with sl st to first sc (250 sts)

Rnd 9: sc in next 3 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 16 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 90 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 16 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 90, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 13 sc, join with sl st to first sc (256 sts)

Rnd 10: sc in next 5 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 17 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 91 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 17 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 91 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 12 sc, join with sl st to first sc (262 sts)

Rnd 11: sc in next 8 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 18 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 92 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 18 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 92 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 10 sc, join with sl st to first sc (268 sts)

Rnd 12: sc in first sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 19 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 93 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 19 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 93 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 18 sc, join with sl st to first sc (274 sts)

Rnd 13: sc in first 11 sc , 2sc in next sc, sc in next 20 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 94 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 20 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 94 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 9 sc, join with sl st to first sc (280 sts)

Rnd 14: (sc in first 21 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 95 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 21 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 95 sc, 2sc in next sc, join with sl st to first sc (286 sts)

Rnd 15: sc in each sc around (286 sts).

Rnd 16: sc in first 3 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 22 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 96 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 22 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 96 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 19 sc, join with sl st to first sc (292 sts)

Rnd 17: sc in first 9 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 23 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 97 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 23 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 97 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 14 sc, join with sl st to first sc (298 sts)

Rnd 18: sc in first 18 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 24 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 98 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 24 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 98 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc, join with sl st to first sc (304 sts)

Rnd 19: sc in first 4 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 25 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 99 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 25 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 99 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 21 sc, join with sl st to first sc (310 sts)

Rnd 20: sc in first 14 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 26 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 100 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 26 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 100 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 12 sc, join with sl st to first sc (316 sts)

Rnd 21: sc in first sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 27 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 101, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 27 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 101 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 26 sc, join with sl st to first sc (322 sts)

Rnd 22: sc in first 5 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 28 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 102 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 28 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 102 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 23 sc, join with sl st to first sc (328 sts)

Rnd 23: sc in first 11 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 29 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 103 sc, (sc in next 29 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 103 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 18 sc, join with sl st to first sc (334 sts)

Rnd 24: sc in first 23 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 30 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 104 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 30 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 104 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 7 sc, join with sl st to first sc (340 sts)

Rnd 25: sc in first 17 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 31 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 105 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 31 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 105 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 14 sc, join with sl st to first sc (346 sts)

Rnd 26: sc in first 4 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 32 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 106 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 32 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 106 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 28 sc, join with sl st to first sc (352 sts)

Rnd 27: sc in first 20 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 33 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 107 sc, 2sc in next sc, (sc in next 33 sc, 2sc in next sc) twice, sc in next 107 sc, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 13 sc, join with sl st to first sc (358 sts)

Rnd 28: Change yarn to white, HDC (note stitch is changed to make both white edges look even) in each sc around (358 sts),  join with sl st to first hdc. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Tie knot and weave tail in.

Your racetrack is done! I tried adding a crab stitch for edging, but its too bulky - and this looks fine. :)

FINISHING

Weave in all other ends, if you still have any.

Using white yarn, stitch road lines evenly every two sc sts around the middle of the track. Simply tie the two ends that meet tightly together on the back. (The completed project will seem two-sided; but there is a 'back' if you look close enough.) NOTE: One of the 'lines' will only be 1 sc - but, I put in in the curve of the road; and you can hardly tell.

Your new racetrack will probably need to be blocked/shaped. Hand wash it, rinse thoroughly - and get as much water out of it that you can without wringing it. Lay out on a towel on a flat surface - making sure to 'shape' or 'block' it how you want it to look when dry.

NOTE, more options: the original pattern called for a double strand of white yarn down the middle of the road, but I thought the single strand looked better. Next time I make this, I may splurge on thicker white yarn for the lines. 

The original pattern also called for felt on the back for stability - sewing it on by hand. But since I wanted this to be very portable, I didn't do that part, either.

Enjoy playtime with your mini peeps!