Knitted Acts of Kindness: Junie Moon’s Bandage Brigade

The knitting and crocheting community is compromised of men and women with the biggest hearts I’ve seen. And Junie Moon is at the head of the class. In a previous post, I featured her knitted washcloths and touched on a few of her other projects. The response has been terrific and I asked June to share more about the Bandage Brigade with us, including a pattern for knitters and crocheters.

Junie hosts a knit (and crochet) along and the finished bandages are sent to hospitals in Vietnam and Africa. You can read more about Junie’s project here. Or the Touching Others with Leprosy Bandages blog.

The Bandage Brigade really kicks of the first of the year (so be prepared for a reminder then, too!). In the meantime, if you’re interested in joining, leave a comment (I’ll make sure Junie gets your email) and take a peek at the patterns below.

Thank you so much for your interest in joining me to knit bandages for leprosy patients. I truly believe that the love and care we send out into the world does indeed make a difference.

Knitting Instructions

Materials

• Use size 2 knitting needles if you knit average or loosely, size 3 needles if you knit tightly. You may also use size 8 needles.
• 3–4 oz “kitchen type” 4 ply cotton yarn: Peaches and Cream, Sugar and Cream or similar quality. Please use only 100% mercerized cotton yarn in white and ecru only (no colors as they contain heavy dyes).
• Large safety pin
• Zip-loc baggie for each bandage.

Pattern (2 options):

Option 1: Size 2 or 3 needles
Cast on 24 to 28 stitches so the bandage measures 3”-4″ across. Slip the first stitch of every row (as to purl, with yarn in back), which gives a very nice edge to them. Knit every row until bandage is desired length of about 4 feet long. Bind off and secure thread end by slipping thread through last stitch, tying a double knot, and weaving end back through stitches.

Option 2: Size 8 needles
Cast on 14 or 18 stitches. Slip the first stitch of every row (as to purl, with yarn in back), which gives a very nice edge to them. Knit every row until bandage is desired length of about 4 feet long. Bind off and secure thread end by slipping thread through last stitch, tying a double knot, and weaving end back through stitches.

Crochet Instructions

I do not know how to crochet but here are the instructions for working up bandages with this technique.

Materials

• Use size D or E crochet hook (loose tension desirable).
• No. 10 knit Cro-sheen, 100% mercerized cotton in white, cream or ecru. It’s bedspread cotton. (1 ball/skein will make two 4-foot long bandages.) Please no dyes. South Maid D54 is the suggested brand, although other brand names like JP Coats, knit Cro Sheen, etc. are welcome if they meet these specifications.
• Large safety pin.
• Zip-loc baggie for each bandage.

Pattern

Chain enough stitches to measure about 3″–4″ in width. (23 chains and an E hook take 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. Chain 1 and turn. Continue to single crochet to end, chain 1 and turn. Repeat row 2 until bandage measures about 4 feet long.
Finish off by pulling thread through last loop and secure with a knot. Weave end back through stitches.

Preparing for Mailing

When completed, please hand wash in Ivory soap and dry, roll the bandage and secure with a large safety pin. Put in plastic bag, remove air, and seal. Please include a piece of paper with your name, email address (optional), and blog URL (optional).

Mailing Address

Although I’ve very happy to collect the bandages and send them on to the coordinator, you can mail your bandages directly to Linda (Touching Others with Leprosy http://www.leprosybandages.blogspot.com/) at the following address:

Linda Stocker
Bandage Brigade
171 Mulkey Lane
Ariel, WA  98603

My mailing address:
Junie Moon’s Bandage Brigade
624 S. Rincon Rising Road
Tucson, AZ  85748