Most of us think of leprosy as that biblical disease that is no longer relevent to our lives. And for the most part, that's true. It doesn't affect our lives in the sense that nobody we know has leprosy. On the other hand, there are still places in the world where leprosy still infects people, and the old stigma is alive as much there today as it ever was in the past. People infected with leprosy are often ostracized, sent off the leper colonies to eke out subsistance living at best or to die at worst.

So what can we do to help? If we knit or crochet, there's actually plenty we can do. We can make bandages for sufferers.

They're incredibly easy to make, too. All they involve is some crochet cotton, knitting needles or a crochet hook, and the time and willingness to help someone.

Crochet cotton is mercerized to make the fibres stronger, which is what makes them ideal for leprosy bandages, since some people will also use them as makeshift shoes in addition to covers for wounds. Always use white or tan crochet cotton, to avoid dyes that could run or stain clothing or skin when the bandage gets wet. Using 2.75 mm knitting needles or a 3.00 mm crochet hook, start with between 23 and 28 stitches, and then work in a basic knit or single crochet stitch until the bandage is approximately 4 feet long. Cast off, and weave in the ends.

Wash the bandages on very hot water to sterilize them, roll them up, and then secure the roll with a safety pin. After that, the only trick is to find a place to send the bandages to, where they'll ship them to people who need them. I provided a few links below to websites that have more detailed instructions and organizations who will accept them when they're complete.

I'm in the process of knitting some leprosy bandages right now, and because they're so simple to knit, they're easy to make while doing other things, like watching TV or reading. I've also discovered that these things are handy to have around the home, which is why I plan to make a few extra ones when I'm done knitting the ones that I'll donate. They're good for wrapping up small wounds or blisters when Bandaids won't quite work, or for support with sprains or twisted ankles.

Crochet cotton is cheap relatively cheap, so if you have a little bit of spare money and some time on your hands, consider making a few bandages to help out those who need them. The recipients will never know you personally, but they'll be thankful for the donation, which might make the difference between losing a limb to infection, or keeping it.