The Racetrack is Quilted and Bound

The Racetrack is is open for business. Starting the New Year with a finished quilt. Hooray!

For years I've known this block design as Racetrack or Snake in the Grass. Boy, that last name does not do it for me. Yuck. Looking through my reference books I couldn't find either name nor could I find the design under any other name.

It's similar to Polka Dot, Drunkard's Path, and Robbing Peter to Pay Paul blocks but the important point is that the "road" must be centered on each side. I wrote about that aspect last year here.

Racetrack quilt top sewn

I drafted a six-inch block, then cut plastic templates with seam allowances added. I traced these with Frixion pens, something I don't normally use because the ink can never be removed. But these marks are on the cutting lines so will never be seen and they were certainly easier to cut out.

It's also not a beginner's block although I wonder if paperless paper piecing would make it easier. There are two quarter circles on each block which makes it harder. Take your time pinning and sewing. Be careful while pressing. When squaring the block you must keep the roads centered. In my case that meant the road edges lined up at 2.5 and 4.0" for the 6.5" unfinished block. Doesn't sound hard except those measurements must line up on each side. If you've pulled the block out of shape it may not be useable.

Pinning the Racetrack quilt
and choosing thread color

To make the racetrack more than a single path, I added two four-way intersections...

A four-way intersection on the Racetrack quilt

and two three-way intersections.

A three-way intersection on the Racetrack quilt

Both intersections give the driver multiple ways to move his car along the track loops but to get a closed course with three-way intersections, use an odd number of rows and columns. My even-numbered rows mean the roadway runs off the quilt. I wanted to do that so our Fabulous Guy can extend the raceway with building blocks but other people may not want cars racing off the quilt/mat.

I considered sewing a median line along the road but finally just stitched in the ditch along each side and then went back and meandered on the background areas.

Radiator Springs Racetrack quilt

This old Moda stripe as been in the stash for years. I love stripes for binding and think the colors work well here. Plus, I'm trying to use up fabric when I find a good place for it. No more saving it for that "perfect" project. The blues and greens blend with the top while the cream background makes it sit back a bit. After all, the racetrack itself is the star of the show.

Radiator Springs Racetrack quilt
detail of binding and carhops

This is the first time I regret using Mountain Mist. It always shrinks a bit so this is now the Radiator Springs Speedway. If I'd used Warm and Natural or something that doesn't shrink the racetrack might have been smoother. But cars will never be able to race down it independently. They must be hand-pushed.

Back, binding, quilting on
Radiator Springs Racetrack quilt

The loud back is two fabrics that didn't make it to the front. Fun and bright.

Back of Radiator Springs Racetrack quilt

Previous post here. I'm surprised how quickly this one was finished. Perhaps because all the leftovers gave me more time for sewing. It's in the mail and should arrive by Twelfth Night. Who remembers that as the traditional day to exchange gifts?

Quilt Details

Size: 44.5"" x 44.5"

Design: Racetrack or Snake in the Grass

Batting: Mountain Mist Blue Ribbon 100% cotton

Thread: yellow Aurifil cotton Mako 50/2 and YLI nylon monofilament

Quilting: walking foot SID and free-motion meander

Yesterday my son called New Year's resolutions a to-do list for the first week of January. Hopefully mine will last a bit longer. Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2018.

Enjoy the day, Ann

Racetrack Quilt

Well... I planned to think about 2018 but I'm in the doghouse. Someone has wanted a racetrack for his matchbox cars all his life. {He's two.} I have been delinquent; such a tragedy. Better get busy. {By the way, it wasn't the two-year-old who acted like a two-year-old. Just sayin'.}

I pulled novelty fabrics: race cars, space, guitars, fish, butterflies, giraffes - anything I had on hand. Then worked on arranging the colors. I thought most of my novelty prints had white or light backgrounds and was pleasantly surprised to find so many with color. {That means the road can be white instead of grey.} At first it seemed blue, orange, yellow would be the range but these alligators on green are simply too cute to leave out. Besides they are also in a quilt given to his youngest uncle. Nice connection.

Laying out the Racetrack quilt

When I first laid out the track I realized it would be a single circuit. That would quickly become boring. My first thought was to make gridded city streets on the back but then I realized I could modify this side with intersections and on/off ramps.

Racetrack quilt laid out

Layout complete. Sewing has begun.

With holes in all my old pairs, these Blue Q cotton socks were a Christmas present I really needed. I relate most to the pair in the middle. At least it looks like me on my bike. Plus it reminds me of that song by Queen. You know the one.

Blue Q cotton socks

Librarian Maureen Paschal explained how she teaches critical thinking in research and news. I remember my teachers emphasizing verifiable sources but Maureen has updated this information for the internet and social media. Her article shows we can all be involved in teaching discernment. It's not just politics; kids believe the craziest stuff about diet, exercise, needs vs. wants (what kid doesn't think a cell phone is a necessity?) Some of her points resonated with me including questioning my computer searches, "Why has this source appeared in my results list?" and the perils of using news aggregators. Her article is making me think about whether I'm being an intelligent consumer and citizen or a patsy.

Enjoy the day, Ann