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CROCHETED OR KNITTED TROPICAL SORE BANDAGES
"I see God in every human being. When I wash the leper's wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord himself. Is it not a beautiful experience?"  Mother Teresa

Tropical sore bandages



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BANDAGE UPDATES
August 2007 -
WHERE TO SEND Tropical Sore BANDAGES
leprosybandages.blogspot.com -  They are supporting  TOP ('Tours of Peace' ~ trips Vietnam Vets make) - They take these bandages personally to Hansen's Disease Settlement in Vietnam.  They also take school supplies, medical needs, and such.
  • Linda Stocker, 171 Mulkey Lane, Ariel, WA 98603
  • TOP Vietnam Veterans, 8000 S. Kolb Road, Suite 43, Tucson, AZ 85706
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August 2007 - Global Health Ministries no longer has a need for the bandages.

 Jan 9, 2006.  I was asked by an official from the LDS Church to add this information to my website this afternoon. 
"We still accept leprosy bandages if they are donated, but we do not have a significant need for them. We have taken the instructions for leprosy bandages out of the "How Can I Help" brochure and off of the Provident Living web site."  Thanks, John Yancey, Medical Manager, LDS Humanitarian Center

Oct 12, 2005, Rising Star Outreach does NOT need any more bandages as they have a permanent supplier now


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PATTERNS to use
Size: approximately 3" - 4"  inches wide by 4 feet long. I called the Humanitarian Center in SLC to confirm this size (1-9-06)
Material specifications: No. 10 knit Cro-sheen, 100% mercerized cotton in white, cream or ecru.  It's bedspread cotton, thin.
(1 small ball 225 yds- should make 1 knitted bandage)
Knitting needles - size 2 or 3 USA
Crochet hook - size D or E
Do not use dyes/colors.
*When completed, roll bandages and secure with a large (2") safety pin.
*Put in plastic bag, remove air, and seal.

TO PRINT JUST THE PATTERNS
If you wish to print these patterns, left click on your mouse and hold the button down, drag the curser over the words you wish to print to highlight them, then let go of button.  Hit ctrl-C to copy.  Then open up WORD and paste (ctrl-V) it in there.


Pattern ideas courtesy of LDS Humanitarian Services

Hand Knitted 'Leprosy' Bandage: (I think the knitted bandages are softer, but the crocheted ones are perhaps faster to make and both are needed.) 
Use size 2 knitting needles if you knit average or loosely, size 3 needles if you knit tightly.
I use little double pointed needles with the point protectors on the tips, so I can carry them in my purse.
Cast on 24 to 27 stitches so the bandage measures 3"- 4" across.
Knit every row until bandage is desired length of about 4 feet long, then bind off, leaving a 2-3" tail to weave in.
(TIP: I find the edge looks neater if I slip the first stitch of each row instead of knitting it.)
 Secure tail by slipping thread through last stitch, tying a small knot, and weaving end back through stitches.

Crocheted 'Leprosy' Bandage

Use size D or E crochet hook (loose tension desirable). Chain enough stitches (23-26) to measure 3" - 4"  in width. (I use 23 chs and an E hook, and it takes about 6 rows to equal one inch.)  Row 1: Single crochet into each chain. Chain 1 and turn. 
Rows 2:  Single crochet into each sc across row. Ch 1 and turn. Continue to single crochet to end, chain 1 and turn
Row 3 - ? (4 feet long) Repeat row 2 until bandage measures about 4' long. Finish off by pulling thread through last loop and secure with a knot. Weave end back through stitches. I use a sewing needle to do this.

Knitting Machine Bandage:
When using a knitting machine, to make bandages, use a double-knit stitch because single-knit bandages curl or here is a machine knit pattern sent by reader Arlene Hahn

http://bevscountrycottage.com/leprosy-bandage-double-bed.html

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How tight or loose should the bandages be?
It should be what I call a 'medium-tight', not strangling, but fairly close, with breathable holes. When they are washed they do shrink a little and make it a little tighter but not a lot.  If yours look Mesh-like you may want to switch to a smaller hook  (try the D) if it's looking really loose and make a chain of about 26 sts or so.   Use a size 2 knitting needle if your knitting is loose.

How long does a bandage take to make?
It takes me 1 hour to knit about 3" of bandage that is 4" wide, so about 16 hours to complete one 48" bandage.
Crochet might be faster, but I don't do well crocheting them so I don't know how long it takes to make one that way, it's been a while since I've crocheted a bandage.)

My bandage looks terrible,  will they still want it?
Please know that the bandages do NOT have to 'perfect', so don't let that stop you if you are afraid yours is not 'straight' enough or whatever.  Each one is cherished and gratefully accepted. I always wash the bandages, but you do not have to, I have heard that LDS Humanitarian sterilizes them before they ship them where needed.  The bandages do tighten up and shrink a bit after washing.

Why Handmade Bandages and not Storebought?
I wrote to LDS Humanitarian for the answer:  "The leper bandages breathe better, and can be sterilized for reuse." Plus, I found out recently that people with leprosy wear these bandages on their stumps as well as on sores, and the bandages become like their shoes as they move on their stumps.  Gauze would wear out so fast.


Blind leper with bandage

"One of the most healing things we do with the leprosy-affected people of India is simply to touch them:  to give them "high-fives", hugs, handshakes, and kisses.  Greater than the suffering caused by their disease, is the suffering caused by society's declaring them to be untouchables.  The bandages are one way we can begin to heal their social wounds. That is the secret of the healing power of the bandages that are so lovingly made by so many.  The very fact that they take dozens and dozens of hours, testifies of the love another person has for the leprosy-affected.  Instead of pushing the leprosy patient aside, the bandage-makers make a personal sacrifice of time to serve them.  This is the greatest value of the bandages!"  Becky Douglas with Rising Star Outreach.

INFORMATION ABOUT LEPROSY in the world...

Many 3rd world countries like India, Vietnam etc still have victims of LEPROSY or as it is known today Hansons Disease.  They are outcasts in society and life is not kind to them. You can help make life a little easier for them by making and donating these handmade bandages to wrap their wounds. LDS Humanitarian Services ships these bandages all over the world-wherever they are needed, to people with leprosy or other tropical diseases, and to those in natural disasters who made need them.
Susan Bates Silvalume Crochet Hook Size E-4    Aluminum Crochet Hook Size D

LEPROSY LINKS
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/l1/leprosy.asp
 Leprosy info
http://www.tlmcanada.org/kumi/stories.html
http://www.indchurch.org/photos/leprosy-1.html

*Touching article*  about a bandage one of my readers sent, that appeared in Jan 8, 2005 LDS Church News.

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* COPYRIGHT: All content is copyrighted to original creators. You may print out pages for yourself, or for charity IF credit is given on each page to Bev's Country Cottage.  Publishing this content on other websites, blogs, in emails, mailing lists, in any print media, OR the selling of these patterns, or items made from them, is FORBIDDEN!   These patterns are for humanitarian or family/gifts ONLY!  Direct linking to a pattern or recipe is allowed.