From Crochet at About.com
Foundation Mesh for Ruffling Pattern

Materials

1 oz. any color cotton Worsted Weight Yarn
Size H crochet hook

Abbreviations
ch = chain
dc = double crochet

Directions
ch 38.
Row 1: Work 1 dc in eighth ch from hook; * ch 2, skip 2 ch,
work 1 dc in next ch; repeat from * across row, ch 5, turn.
Each hole is called a mesh. Piece should be 11 mesh wide.
Row 2: * Skip ch-2 space, work 1 dc in next dc, ch 2; repeat
from * across row; skip 2 ch and end with 1 dc in next ch of
turning ch; ch 5. turn.
Rows 3 - 11: Repeat row 2 until the piece is 11 mesh high.
Do not ch 5 at end of row 11. End off.

Ruffling how-to's are in the 1/31/98 feature at
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa013198.htm

See more previous crochet features, with more free patterns and crochet info, at:
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/mpreviss.htm

Homepage is at http://crochet.about.com/