The Rose Gilt Angel is a single lace angel motif in dusty rose pink with a fine edging of metallic gold. She has a small, round 3D head and a long ribbed bodice that flares into a wide lace skirt. Two fan-shaped wings sweep up and out from her shoulders.
The look is soft, vintage, and festive. Dense ribs of treble crochet run down from the neck and open into chain lace, so the skirt looks like pleated fabric turning into lace. The hem and the wing edges end in rounded scallops. Each scallop is outlined in gold and has a tiny picot at its tip.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished angel measures 7 in (17.8 cm) from wingtip to wingtip and 6 in (15.2 cm) from the top of the head to the lowest scallop.
Construction is simple and nearly seamless. First you crochet the head as a small stuffed ball. Then you work the skirt in turned rows from the neck down, as a fan. Each wing is worked straight off the shoulder edge of the skirt, also as a fan. One row of gold edges the scallops, and you sew the head on last.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 7 in (17.8 cm) wide x 6 in (15.2 cm) tall
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Sport weight (#2) cotton, plus sport or fingering weight metallic yarn for the edging
- Hook: 3.25 mm (US D-3)
- Number of pieces: 1 finished motif (body and wings are worked in one piece, plus a small head sewn on)
- Layout: One angel, with the wings angled upward at the shoulders and the skirt fanning downward
- Piece size: Skirt is 6 in (15.2 cm) across the hem; each wing is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) long from shoulder to feather tip before edging
- Size before border: 6.5 in (16.5 cm) wide x 5.75 in (14.6 cm) tall
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of gold edging on all scalloped edges
Materials
Choose a smooth, mercerized sport weight cotton for the pink. Cotton holds the lace shape and shows the ribs clearly. For the gold, pick a soft metallic yarn or thread that is the same thickness as the pink or slightly finer, so the edging stays neat and does not ruffle.
- Dusty rose pink (main color): 15 g, about 50 m (55 yd)
- Metallic gold (edging): 5 g, about 20 m (22 yd)
These quantities include a margin of about 30% for a gauge check and weaving in ends.
Tools:
- 3.25 mm (US D-3) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Small scissors
- 2 stitch markers
- A small pinch of polyester fiberfill
- Blocking mat and rust-proof pins
- Spray bottle, plus optional fabric stiffener or spray starch
- Ruler or tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- tr – treble crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- MR – magic ring
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- RS – right side
Picot: ch 3, then sl st into the front loop and left vertical bar of the sc you just made.
Shell: a group of dc or tr worked into one stitch or space, as stated in the row.
Turning chains: ch 3 counts as a dc and ch 4 counts as a tr throughout. Always work into the top of a turning chain as a stitch.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 22 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm). One row of dc is 0.5 in (1.3 cm) tall. One row of tr is 0.75 in (1.9 cm) tall.
Make the head first and use it as your test piece. It should measure about 1 in (2.5 cm) across. If it does, your sc gauge is right. Then check these points as you work:
- Skirt after Row 2: 1.25 in (3.2 cm) from the neck
- Skirt after Row 6: 4.25 in (10.8 cm) from the neck
- Skirt after Row 7: 4.75 in (12.1 cm) from the neck and about 6 in (15.2 cm) across the hem
- Each wing after Row 5: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) from shoulder to feather tip
- After gold edging: 7 in (17.8 cm) wide x 6 in (15.2 cm) tall
If your pieces come out too big, switch to a smaller 2.75 mm hook. If they come out too small, switch to a 3.5 mm hook. Treble row height varies the most from person to person, so measure the skirt after Row 2 before you go on. Being off by just 0.1 in (0.3 cm) per row adds up to about 0.6 in (1.5 cm) over the full skirt.
Head
Use pink and work in continuous rounds. Place a marker in the first st of each round and move it up as you go.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st; repeat from * around. (18 sts)
Rnds 4–6: Sc in each st around. (18 sts in each round)
Rnd 7: Sc in next st, sc2tog; repeat from * around. (12 sts)
Stuff lightly with a small pinch of fiberfill. The head should be firm but not hard.
Rnd 8: Sc2tog 6 times. (6 sts)
Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Thread the tail through the front loops of the last 6 sts and pull it closed. Keep the tail for sewing. The head measures about 1 in (2.5 cm) across.
Skirt
Use pink and work in turned rows from the neck down. The skirt is a fan. From Row 2 on, it always has 18 tr, and the chain spaces between them get longer to make the fan wider.
Row 1 (RS): Ch 4, 8 dc in 4th ch from hook. (9 dc, counting the skipped ch-3 as the first dc) Turn.
Row 2: Ch 4, tr in same st, 2 tr in each of next 7 dc, 2 tr in top of turning ch. (18 tr) Turn.
These first two rows form the narrow neck and shoulders.
Row 3: Ch 4, tr in next tr, ch 1, tr in each of next 2 tr; repeat from * 7 more times. (18 tr in 9 pairs, 8 ch-1 sps) Turn.
Row 4: Ch 4, tr in next tr, ch 3, tr in each of next 2 tr; repeat from * 7 more times. (18 tr, 8 ch-3 sps) Turn.
The pairs of trebles in Rows 2–4 stack up into the tight ribs of the bodice. Keep each pair directly above the pair below it.
Row 5: Ch 4, tr in next tr, ch 2, dc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, tr in each of next 2 tr; repeat from * 7 more times. (18 tr, 8 dc, 16 ch-2 sps) Turn.
Row 6: Ch 4, tr in next tr, ch 3, sc in next dc, ch 3, tr in each of next 2 tr; repeat from * 7 more times. (18 tr, 8 sc, 16 ch-3 sps) Turn.
Rows 5 and 6 open up the lace between the ribs.
Row 7 (scallops): Ch 1, sc in each of first 2 tr, skip next ch-3 sp, 9 dc in next sc, skip next ch-3 sp, sc in each of next 2 tr; repeat from * 7 more times. (90 sts: 18 sc + 72 dc, 8 shells) Fasten off.
The skirt now has 8 rounded scallops across the hem. Each rib ends in a pair of sc between two shells.
Wings
Each wing is worked straight off one end of skirt Row 2, so it grows out of the shoulder. Work both wings the same way.
Right wing: With RS facing, join pink with a sl st around the post of the ch-4 turning chain at the start of Row 2.
Left wing: With RS facing, join pink with a sl st around the post of the last tr of Row 2.
Row 1: Ch 3, 6 dc around the same post. (7 dc) Turn.
Row 2: Ch 4, tr in same st, 2 tr in each of next 5 dc, 2 tr in top of turning ch. (14 tr) Turn.
Row 3: Ch 4, tr in next tr, ch 2, tr in each of next 2 tr; repeat from * 5 more times. (14 tr in 7 pairs, 6 ch-2 sps) Turn.
Row 4: Ch 4, tr in next tr, ch 4, tr in each of next 2 tr; repeat from * 5 more times. (14 tr, 6 ch-4 sps) Turn.
Row 5 (feathers): Ch 1, sc in each of first 2 tr, 7 tr in next ch-4 sp, sc in each of next 2 tr; repeat from * 5 more times. (56 sts: 14 sc + 42 tr, 6 feathers) Fasten off.
Each 7-tr shell forms one long, rounded feather. Check that each wing measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) from shoulder to feather tip.
Gold Edging (Border)
Border gauge: one row of sc with picots extends 0.25 in (0.6 cm) past the scallop tips. Crochet the gold firmly, at the same tension as the pink, so the edges lie flat.
The edging goes on three edges: the skirt hem and the outer edge of each wing. Work each edge with RS facing.
Edge A – Skirt hem: Join gold with a sl st in the first sc of skirt Row 7. Ch 1, sc in each st across, and work a picot after the sc in the 5th dc of each shell. (90 sc + 8 picots) Fasten off.
Edge B – Right wing: Join gold in the first sc of wing Row 5. Ch 1, sc in each st across, and work a picot after the sc in the 4th tr of each feather. (56 sc + 6 picots) Fasten off.
Edge C – Left wing: Work the same as Edge B. (56 sc + 6 picots) Fasten off.
Why the math works: Each skirt shell has 9 dc, so the 5th dc is its exact center, with 4 dc on each side. Each feather has 7 tr, so the 4th tr is its center, with 3 tr on each side. You work 1 sc in every stitch, so the gold count always matches the pink count: 90 on the hem and 56 on each wing. That puts every picot on a scallop tip. The pairs of sc between scallops get no picots, which keeps the dips between scallops crisp.
Attach the Head
Center the head on the starting chain of skirt Row 1, with the neck tucked slightly under it. Use the tail to sew through 4–5 sts around the base of the head. Weave in all ends along the ribs, where they hide best.
Final Blocking
- Soak the angel in cool water for 10 minutes. Roll it in a towel to remove excess water.
- Lay it RS up on the blocking mat.
- Pin the head and neck in place first, centered at the top.
- Pin the 8 hem picots in an even arc 6.25 in (15.9 cm) across, with the lowest picot 5 in (12.7 cm) below the neck.
- Angle each wing up at about 30 degrees. Pin the 6 feather picots on each wing so the wingtips are 7 in (17.8 cm) apart.
- Straighten the skirt ribs so each pair runs in a clean line from neck to hem.
- Open each chain space with a pin if needed.
- If you want the angel to hold its shape for hanging, spray it lightly with stiffener. Let it dry completely before you unpin it.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The head is round, lightly stuffed, and sewn on centered at the neck.
- The skirt has 9 rib pairs and 8 scallops.
- Each wing has 7 rib pairs and 6 feathers.
- Every scallop and feather has one gold picot at its center.
- The gold edging lies flat, with no ruffling or cupping.
- The finished size is 7 in (17.8 cm) wide x 6 in (15.2 cm) tall.
- Both wings are the same length and angle.
- All ends are woven in and can’t be seen from the RS.
Troubleshooting
Skirt cups instead of lying flat: Your chains are too tight. Loosen your chain tension, or add 1 ch to each ch-3 sp in Row 4.
Hem ruffles: The shells are too full for your tension. Work 7 dc instead of 9 in each Row 7 shell, and place the picot after the 4th dc.
Wings are uneven: Count Row 2 of each wing. Both need exactly 14 tr.
Gold edging pulls the scallops in: Use a slightly larger hook for the gold row only.
Head is lumpy: Take out a little stuffing and roll the head between your palms before you close it.
Picots twist: Make sure each sl st goes into the front loop and left vertical bar of the sc you just made.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap and dry flat. If the angel loses its shape, block it again and add a light coat of stiffener.
Final Notes
The measurement chain is short and easy to check. The head is 1 in (2.5 cm) across. The skirt measures 1.25 in (3.2 cm) after Row 2, 4.25 in (10.8 cm) after Row 6, and 4.75 in (12.1 cm) after Row 7. Each wing is 3.5 in (8.9 cm) long. Before edging, the angel is 6.5 in (16.5 cm) wide x 5.75 in (14.6 cm) tall. The gold row adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm), for a finished angel of 7 in (17.8 cm) x 6 in (15.2 cm).
Keep 18 tr in each skirt row and 14 tr in each wing row, and the scallops and picots will line up every time.
Happy crocheting!