The alt.usage.english FAQ   

• doubling of final consonants before suffixes

  (Spelling)
  
  

  
    The general rule is that when one of the suffixes "-ed", "-ing",
  "-er", and "-est" is applied to a word ending in one consonant
  preceded by exactly one vowel, the consonant is doubled if and only
  if the word's final syllable is stressed:  "omitted" but "edited";
  "preferred" but "offered".  Americans obey the stress rule when the
  final consonant is "l":  "repelled" but "traveled".  Britons double
  "l" regardless of stress:  "repelled", "travelled".  Detailed
  discussion of doubling can be found in MEU under "-B-, -BB-",
  "-C-, -CK-", "-D-, -DD-", etc.

  
  
  Source: [Mark Israel, 'Spelling: doubling of final consonants before suffixes', The alt.usage.english FAQ file,(line 6989), (29 Sept 1997)]
  
  
  
  

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