Crawford was lead for Ann Muir in the Composite team that beat world champions Val Smith and Edwards (United, Nelson) 22-15 in the women's pair in Dunedin on Saturday.
Before the final, Crawford went away from the green to have time by herself and read an article about Edwards that appeared in Saturday's Otago Daily Times.
In it, Edwards gave practical advice on how she copes with mental problems during a game.
Edwards always puts the bad bowls behind her and does not let it affect her as she prepares to play her next bowl.
In the article, Edwards said it was important to get negative feelings and thoughts out of the mind before delivering the next bowl. The advice helped Crawford in the final.
''I was worried that I had let Ann down on the last two ends of the semifinals by having bad ends,'' Crawford said.
''I took Jo's advice on board for the final because I had been so negative in the semifinal.''
Crawford (53), a compliance officer with Inland Revenue in Dunedin, has played bowls for 30 years and won 19 Bowls Dunedin titles.
''I'm over the moon,'' she said.
''l'm really excited. You play bowls to win a national title. But it hasn't sunk in yet what we have achieved.
''It's been my dream for a long time. I've been close a few times so it is nice to finally get the title.''
She dedicated the win to her late husband, Bob Crawford, who died of cancer 18 months ago.
''He would have been very proud today,'' she said.
''Bob always supported me with my bowls.''
Crawford was an accurate lead who got the better of world champion Smith with her lead bowls.
It was the second time Crawford had played against world champions Smith and Edwards in post-section play in the pairs.
Crawford was skipping the pair in Christchurch in 2004.
''I was skip and we went into the last end three points in front,'' she said.
''We dropped a four and Jo and Val went on to win the title.''
The previous Dunedin bowlers to win the pairs title were Lenore Weber and Joy Deuchrass (Fairfield), in 1990.
