The Golden Trefoil Crown is a small lace crown in warm gold cotton thread. Tall and short peaks alternate around the ring, and every peak ends in a three-picot trefoil tip. Fans of double crochet sit under chain-mesh triangles, open arches circle the middle, and a neat ridged band with a corded edge finishes the bottom.
The crown uses one color, a golden mustard, so the stitch texture does all the decorative work. Once stiffened, it stands up on its own. You can use it as a photo prop, a cake topper, a doll crown, or a crown for a top bun.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished crown measures 15 in (38.1 cm) around and 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall at the tall peaks. The short peaks are 3 in (7.6 cm) tall.
The construction is simple. You chain a ring, work a solid band and three rounds of chain loops, then work a round of fans. Next, you build each peak separately in short mesh rows that end in a trefoil tip. Last, you add a two-round corded edge along the bottom and stiffen the crown over a round form.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 15 in (38.1 cm) circumference × 3.75 in (9.5 cm) tall at the tall peaks
- Diameter: about 4.8 in (12.2 cm)
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Size 3 cotton crochet thread
- Hook: 2.25 mm (US B-1)
- Number of pieces: 1 (worked in joined rounds, then peaks in short rows)
- Layout: 6 pattern repeats around the ring; each repeat has 1 tall peak and 1 short peak
- Repeat width: 20 stitches = 2.5 in (6.4 cm)
- Size before border: 15 in (38.1 cm) around × 3.625 in (9.2 cm) tall
- Border depth: 0.125 in (0.3 cm), added to the bottom edge
Materials
Yarn: Use a mercerized cotton crochet thread in size 3. Mercerized cotton has a soft sheen that reads as “gold,” and it holds its shape well once stiffened. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy fibers because they blur the lace.
- Gold: 20 g, about 55 m (60 yd)
This quantity includes a margin of about 25% for your gauge swatch and for joining in thread at each peak.
Tools:
- 2.25 mm (US B-1) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Locking stitch marker
- Fabric stiffener or thick starch solution
- A round form about 4.8 in (12.2 cm) across, such as a jar or a tube wrapped in plastic
- Rust-proof pins
- Flexible tape measure
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- lp – loop
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rev sc – reverse single crochet
- RS – right side
Special stitches:
Trefoil tip: Ch 4 to make the stem. Ch 5, then sl st in the 5th ch from hook to make the first picot ring. [Ch 5, sl st in the same stem ch] twice, which gives 3 picot rings radiating from one point. Sl st in each of the remaining 3 stem ch to work back down.
Reverse single crochet (rev sc): Work single crochet from left to right (right-handed), inserting the hook into the next st to the right. This makes a twisted, corded edge.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 16 rows = 2 in (5.1 cm) square, which is 8 sc per inch.
Test first. Chain 25 and work 16 rows of sc with 24 sc per row. Your swatch should measure 3 in (7.6 cm) wide × 2 in (5.1 cm) tall. Everything in this pattern depends on 8 sc per inch, so check this before starting the crown.
Checkpoints:
- After Rnd 3: The ring measures 15 in (38.1 cm) around, and the band is 0.375 in (1.0 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 5: The total height is 1.125 in (2.9 cm).
- After Rnd 7: The total height is 1.75 in (4.4 cm).
- Each tall peak adds 1.875 in (4.8 cm), for a total of 3.625 in (9.2 cm).
- Each short peak adds 1.125 in (2.9 cm), for a total of 2.875 in (7.3 cm).
- After the border: The tall peaks are 3.75 in (9.5 cm) and the short peaks are 3 in (7.6 cm).
If your swatch is too big (fewer than 8 sc per inch), go down a hook size, to 2.0 mm, and swatch again. If it’s too small (more than 8 sc per inch), go up to 2.5 mm. Don’t change the stitch counts. The repeat structure needs a foundation in multiples of 20.
To change the size: Add or remove 20 ch per repeat. Each repeat changes the circumference by 2.5 in (6.4 cm). For example, 7 repeats (140 ch) give 17.5 in (44.5 cm).
Base Band
Rnd 1: Ch 120. Join with a sl st to the first ch, making sure the chain isn’t twisted. Ch 1 (does not count as a st here or in later rounds), then sc in each ch around. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (120 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, hdc in each st around. Join. (120 hdc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. (120 sc)
Checkpoint: The ring measures 15 in (38.1 cm) around, and the band is 0.375 in (1.0 cm) tall.
Lower Lace
Rnd 4 (loop round): Ch 1, sc in the first st. Ch 5, sk 3 sts, sc in the next st. Repeat from * around, but end the last repeat with ch 5, sk 3 sts, and sl st to the first sc instead of working a new sc. (30 sc, 30 ch-5 lps)
That is 5 lps for each 20-st repeat. This is a conversion round: 120 sts become 30 sc plus 30 lps, at 1 lp for every 4 sts.
Rnd 5: Sl st in each of the next 3 ch to reach the center of the first lp. Ch 1, sc in the same lp. Ch 5, sc in the next lp. Repeat from * 28 more times. Ch 5, then join with a sl st to the first sc. (30 sc, 30 ch-5 lps)
The loops are now offset by half a loop, which gives the interlocking look.
Checkpoint: The total height is 1.125 in (2.9 cm).
Rnd 6 (arch round): Sl st in each of the next 3 ch. Ch 1, sc in the same lp. In each repeat, the lp you just worked into is Lp 1. Work the repeat as follows:
Ch 5, sc in the next lp (Lp 2). Ch 9, sk the next lp (Lp 3), sc in the next lp (Lp 4). Ch 5, sc in the next lp (Lp 5). Ch 5, sc in the next lp (Lp 1 of the next repeat).
Repeat from * 6 times in total. On the last repeat, replace the final sc with a sl st to the first sc. (24 sc; 24 sps: 6 ch-9 arches and 18 ch-5 sps)
Each repeat now has 4 spaces:
- A: ch-5
- B: ch-9 arch, centered over the skipped Lp 3
- C: ch-5
- D: ch-5, centered between repeats
The ch-9 arches form the large oval openings, and D becomes the base of each short peak.
Rnd 7 (fan round): Sl st in each of the next 2 ch to reach sp A. Ch 1, sc in sp A. Work the repeat as follows:
Ch 3, work 13 dc in the ch-9 arch (B). Ch 3, sc in sp C. Ch 3, work 7 dc in sp D. Ch 3, sc in the next sp A.
Repeat from * 6 times in total. On the last repeat, replace the final sc with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.
(120 dc + 12 sc = 132 sts, plus 24 ch-3 sps)
Each repeat has 13 + 7 = 20 dc and 2 sc. The 13-dc fans sit under the tall peaks, and the 7-dc fans sit under the short peaks.
Checkpoint: The total height is 1.75 in (4.4 cm). The fans should cup gently and shouldn’t ruffle.
Tall Peaks (make 6)
Each tall peak is worked in turned rows across one 13-dc fan. The mesh narrows by 1 lp in each row and forms the triangle.
Row 1: With the RS facing, join the thread in the first dc of a 13-dc fan. Ch 1, sc in the same dc. [Ch 3, sk 1 dc, sc in the next dc] 6 times. The last sc goes in the 13th dc. Turn. (7 sc, 6 ch-3 lps)
Row 2: Sl st in each of the first 2 ch to reach the center of the first lp. Ch 1, sc in the same lp. [Ch 3, sc in the next lp] 5 times. Turn. (6 sc, 5 lps)
Row 3: Repeat Row 2, working the bracket 4 times. (5 sc, 4 lps)
Row 4: Repeat Row 2, working the bracket 3 times. (4 sc, 3 lps)
Row 5: Repeat Row 2, working the bracket 2 times. (3 sc, 2 lps)
Row 6: Repeat Row 2, working the bracket once. (2 sc, 1 lp)
Row 7 (tip): Sl st in each of the first 2 ch. Ch 1, sc in the lp. Work 1 trefoil tip, then sl st in the sc. Fasten off.
Checkpoint: This peak adds 1.875 in (4.8 cm), for a total height of 3.625 in (9.2 cm).
Short Peaks (make 6)
Row 1: With the RS facing, join the thread in the first dc of a 7-dc fan. Ch 1, sc in the same dc. [Ch 3, sk 1 dc, sc in the next dc] 3 times. The last sc goes in the 7th dc. Turn. (4 sc, 3 lps)
Row 2: Sl st in each of the first 2 ch. Ch 1, sc in the same lp. [Ch 3, sc in the next lp] twice. Turn. (3 sc, 2 lps)
Row 3: Sl st in each of the first 2 ch. Ch 1, sc in the same lp, ch 3, sc in the next lp. Turn. (2 sc, 1 lp)
Row 4 (tip): Sl st in each of the first 2 ch. Ch 1, sc in the lp. Work 1 trefoil tip, then sl st in the sc. Fasten off.
Checkpoint: This peak adds 1.125 in (2.9 cm), for a total height of 2.875 in (7.3 cm).
The ch-3 sps and sc between the fans stay open and form the valleys between the peaks. Weave in all ends now, hiding them along the mesh chains.
Border
The border is worked on the free loops of the foundation chain on the bottom edge. It firms up the base and gives the corded look.
Border gauge: This is the same as the main gauge, 8 sts per inch. That means 120 sts = 15 in (38.1 cm).
Border Rnd 1: Turn the crown upside down. With the RS facing, join the thread in any free loop of the foundation chain near the Rnd 1 join. Ch 1, sc in each free loop around. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (120 sc, which is 20 per repeat)
Border Rnd 2: Ch 1. Working from left to right, rev sc in each sc around. Join with a sl st to the first rev sc and fasten off. (120 rev sc, which is 20 per repeat)
Why the math works: The foundation has 120 ch, which is 6 repeats × 20 ch. One sc in each chain keeps exactly 120 sts, so the circumference stays at 15 in (38.1 cm). Rev sc is also worked 1 per st, so it adds depth but no width. The edge stays snug and straight without flaring or pulling in.
The border adds 0.125 in (0.3 cm), which brings the base band to 0.5 in (1.3 cm), the tall peaks to 3.75 in (9.5 cm), and the short peaks to 3 in (7.6 cm).
Final Blocking
- Wrap your round form, about 4.8 in (12.2 cm) across, in plastic wrap.
- Soak the crown in fabric stiffener, or in thick starch for a softer hold.
- Gently squeeze out the excess. Don’t wring it.
- Slide the crown over the form so the base band sits flat at the bottom.
- Pull each peak straight upward and line up the tips evenly.
- Pin the three picot rings of each trefoil open into a clover shape.
- Open each large arch and each mesh lp with a pin or a toothpick.
- Check the measurements: 15 in (38.1 cm) around, with tall peaks at 3.75 in (9.5 cm) and short peaks at 3 in (7.6 cm).
- Let it dry completely for about 24 hours before you remove the pins and the form.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- The ring isn’t twisted, and the foundation join is invisible.
- The band has 120 sts in every solid round, including both border rounds.
- There are 6 ch-9 arches, each centered under a tall peak.
- Each tall fan has 13 dc and each short fan has 7 dc.
- The tall peaks have 6 mesh rows and the short peaks have 3, each ending in a trefoil.
- All 12 trefoils have 3 open, even picot rings.
- The peaks stand upright, evenly spaced 1.25 in (3.2 cm) apart, alternating tall and short.
- All ends are woven in and invisible from both sides.
Troubleshooting
The fans ruffle or flip outward. Your dc are too loose for the ch-9 arch. Tighten your tension or go down a hook size for Rnd 7 only.
The crown is too large around. Your chain was loose. Restart with a smaller hook, or work the foundation chain with a hook one size smaller.
The peaks lean sideways. You may have skipped the wrong dc in Row 1. Make sure the first and last sc land in the first and last dc of the fan.
A mesh row comes out a loop short. Check that you slip stitch to the center of the first lp before each row. Don’t start in the sc.
The trefoils are floppy. Add more stiffener to the tips, pin the rings open, and let them dry fully.
The bottom edge is wavy. Make sure you worked 1 sc in each foundation loop, with 120 sts and no extras.
Care
Spot clean only with a damp cloth. Store the crown upright or stuffed with tissue so the peaks keep their shape, and re-stiffen it if it softens over time.
Final Notes
Everything in this crown follows from one measurement chain. The gauge of 8 sc per inch gives 120 sts = 15 in (38.1 cm). That splits into 6 repeats of 20 sts at 2.5 in (6.4 cm) each. Each repeat becomes 5 loops, then 4 spaces, then a 13-dc fan and a 7-dc fan. Those fans become the tall and short peaks, at 3.625 in (9.2 cm) and 2.875 in (7.3 cm) before the border. The 120-st border keeps the circumference exact and brings the peaks to 3.75 in (9.5 cm) and 3 in (7.6 cm).
Check your gauge first, count at each checkpoint, and the crown will come out right.
Happy crocheting!