Abstract: A swab of absorbent material, especially for medicinal purposes, which is in the form of a strip which is wound so as to form a plurality of layers with at least the outer edges of the outermost layer of the wound strip being thrust into the center thereof. The lateral edges are folded so as to form an annular pad consisting of a plurality of layers of the material at the respective ends of the swab. To provide for a double layer swab, the strip of material is folded about an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the strip of material so as to bring the two ends of the strip into substantial alignment with the strip then being wound from the substantially aligned ends toward the fold so that the fold is disposed on the outermost surface of the swab.