I am making a ruffled edging for my tablecloth, couldn't find a knitted one I liked. I understand the theory in doubling, tripling the sts to increse the final effect, but can find nothing that actually helps me do it. Have always been math challenged and this is no different. Hope someone can help in plain english instead of nucleur physics math terms.

How many times you increase stitches will depend upon how ruffly you want the edging to be.

Check out the ruffles on this shawl Lana Grossa Baby Kid shawl This pattern will give you an idea of how many increases you will need to get the ruffles you want.

You may also want to try out increases on a smaller swatch. You would want to see how it looks if you after you pick-up all stitches you double the number. I probably would do a k f&B increase but you may want to do a k1, cast-on 1 using backward loop, or a k1, M1. If this is too ruffly, you could increase every other or every third stitch. If doubling your stitch count isn't enough, then you could double again, or work out your own formula of how many more increases to do based upon what effect you achieve.

The Cast-On May 2006 has an article about ruffles of all sorts. If you have the old magazine, check there.

There's a lovely ruffle on a wrap called Ruffled Fichu from the Fall 07 Knitters. It's a picked up edge, and very , well, ruffley!

I created a ruffle on a capelet I devised a couple of years ago. It gets worked on 4 stitches, but if you need to use more or fewer, be my guest. I used a size 11 needle for my work, and a 13 (X) for the ruffle. It goes like this:

FINISHING - RUFFLED EDGING:
- Using the size X needle in your right hand, work as follows using the bar increase:
- K1, * inc in the next 4 sts - 9 sts. Turn work.
- Purl across 9 sts. Turn work. Bind off 8 st knitwise. (One st will be left on the needle.)*
- Repeat between * to st before first marker, k1, bo.
- Remove marker, k1 bo.
- Repeat to end of round marker, bo last st.
- Weave in ends.