The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 6

6 Saturday, November 3,1990 Living Today The Salina Journal Talking T-shirts flaunt opinions By PATRICIA McLAUGHLIN Universal Press "Let me tell you about my grandchildren." "Wouldn't it be great if schools had all the money they wanted and the Pentagon had to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber?" "I (heart) New no to drugs. "Cowboy "Psychedelic "Buy your wife a "Save the After a fashion "U.S. Out of El Salvador." "Die Yuppie Scum." "Kiss me, I'm Irish." "Italian Stallion." "It's a black thing, you wouldn't understand." "Don't have a cow, man." "Cowabunga!" "New Kids on the Block." "New Squids on the Dock." "Harvard." "Neurotic State." "Bitch." "Sexy Senior Citizen." "Trust me, I'm a doctor." "Free Lithuania." "Nuke Iraq." "Fight the power." "Expect a miracle." "Leave me ALONE." "Eat my shorts." "If you can read this, you're too close." "Colorado snowboards." "Vision Streetwear." "Champion." "Nike." "Gucci." "Fendi." "Polo." "Chanel." "Guess?" "My parents went to Bermuda and all I got was this lousy T-shirt." People who think public discourse is flagging haven't been reading their fellow citizens' shirts. Like the one I saw at the mall last weekend with an American flag on the back and under it the words: "Try and burn this one." I was tempted, but the guy inside was big and looked tough. All these messages blooming on chests might look like a healthy flowering of First Amendment rights, a victory for pluralism.

Or, if you figure tendentious Ts are a poor substitute for Unlvenol People may not think their congressman cares how they feel, but they want others to know anyway. voting or writing your congressperson, maybe they're one more sign we've lost faith in the political process. Karla, the gorgeous wife of the flat-broke former oil millionaire in Larry McMurtry's "Texasville" (soon to be a major motion picture) communicates with her husband, Duane, largely via T-shirt. She has 30 or 40 printed with significant truths, some of them lines from country-western songs like "You're the reason our children are ugly," some of them lines you could write country songs around, like "I'm not deaf; I'm just ignoring you." You get the feeling she's 98 percent given up on really getting through to Duane, who's totally preoccupied with his midlife crisis but then there's that other 2 percent that keeps her buying the shirts. She'll put up but she won't shut up.

Maybe most people in talking T-shirts are like that: They don't think their congressman cares how they feel, but they want you to know anyway. Then, of course, there's the millions of Ts that are strictly apolitical. The Guccis and Fendis and Polos are easy to figure. They're naked bids for status, pure showing off although, since most of them are fakes (you didn't think Gucci really made it's not clear what the wearers are displaying. Knowledgeability, I guess.

The semiology of character Ts is more complex. What does the guy in the Mickey Mouse mean by it? Bart Simpson was summer's big winner, character-T-wise, pretty much blowing Dick Tracy out of the water and dashing Warren Beatty's hopes to be this year's Batman. And it's not hard to see why. Bart's a sweetie pie. He's subversive of adult cant and pretense in just the way Tom Sawyer was.

Boiled wool jacket made in three hours ByMARYLOUODLE KSU-Sallne Co. Extension Home Economist Boiled wool is a fabric made of 100 percent Merino wool. The fibers are dyed, knitted and then shrunk under controlled conditions. The resulting "hybrid" fabric is soft and pliable like a knit; warm, water repellent and wind resistant like felt, and textured like woven cloth. Boiled wool In the home is lightweight and 1 g- wearing.

Because it readily absorbs and evaporates moisture, it is extremely comfortable to wear. The unique character of boiled wool depends on the fiber, the knitted structure and the felting process. Several animals produce wool, but the fibers used for boiled wool come from the Merino sheep and are reputed to be the finest and softest available. These short-stapled, high-quality fibers are spun into yarn which is knitted into fabric. Knitting gives boiled wool elasticity, comfort and wrinkle-resistance.

Controlled shrinking (felting) is the final process in the production of boiled wool and is responsible for the fabric's bulky appearance and felt- like qualities. Felting is easiest with short, fine wool fibers, a fact that explains the preference for Merino wool. As far as we know, garments made from boiled wool were first worn on the ski slopes of Europe in the late 1800s. Boiled wool is still a good choice for active and outdoor wear, such as ski jackets, coats and capes. But it is also seen in dressy jackets, skirts and even children's clothing.

During the last several years, the fabric has become synonymous with a short, fitted jacket. However, boiled wool is currently popular in loose fitting coats to wear over suits and sweaters. If you sew, you can save considerable money by making your own boiled wool jacket. The construction is not difficult and a complete jacket can be fashioned by the average sewer in about three hours. The fabric should be preshrunk if you intend to handwash your boiled wool garment.

Boiled wool has no right or wrong side and holds its shape well. It needs no interfacing and is lined only in the sleeves. Appropriate patterns usually have only four or five main pieces (facing and lining pieces are not used). Seam finishing is not necessary. The seams can be opened and stitched in place.

Fold-over braid is used to finish the edges of jackets and sleeves. Ex-fiance wants ring back after 14 years Dear Ann Landers: I am 36 years old and happily engaged to a fine man. Fourteen years ago I was engaged to another man. Unfortunately, my first fiance, I'll call him Greg, refused to set the date and kept putting me off. After wearing his beautiful diamond ring for three years, I decided to remove it from my hand to avoid the embarrassing question from family members and friends, "When are you two going to get married? I kept seeing Greg for three more years, hoping he'd get serious about marriage, but it never happened.

As time rolled on, I had to face the fact that Greg was never going to marry me. I decided to break up with him and asked if he wanted the ring back. He said, "No. It's yours. I gave it to you for your birthday." Because of my admiration for this man, I agreed that we should remain friendly.

We both developed other relationships, introduced one another to our new partners and often double-dated. Last week Greg told me he wants to Ann Landers CREATORS SYNDICATE marry the woman with whom he's been living this past year. He has asked me to return the diamond ring he gave me 14 years ago. It's a perfect stone weighing 1.5 carats, purchased in 1976 for $1,800. He says today it would cost at least twice as much.

Ann, I have been paying insurance on this ring for 14 years, not to mention that I am pretty upset about Greg's request. I don't want to look like a gold digger or an overly materialistic woman. On the other hand, I love that ring and would hate to part with it. Please tell me what to do. P.M.K.,Branford,Conn.

Dear Branford: If you value Greg's friendship, give the ring back. If you feel that he has so damaged the relationship that you no longer want to be friends I wouldn't blame you keep the ring and tell him to take a hike. Legally, the ring is yours because he gave it to you as a birthday gift. Had that not been the case, he would have been entitled to the ring because YOU broke the engagement. Incidentally, according to a Chicago diamond consultant, Lester Lampert, a fine quality diamond ring that cost $1,800 in 1976 would probably be worth about $10,000 today.

Dear Ann Landers: My wife and I are happily married and someday soon wish to have children. As married couples often do, we've discussed possible names for the children. My wife wants very much to have a junior. on the other hand, feel a child should have its own identity and said I was opposed to it. Six months ago when my pregnant sister and her husband approached me and asked if they could name their baby after me (if it's a boy) I was flattered and said, "Of course." My wife was upset that I had agreed to this after I had objected so strongly to our using the name.

Second, she was hurt that she hadn't been consulted. Now every time the family gets together and the baby's name is used, she becomes upset Do you have any suggestions on how we can make this situation bearable in the future? Caught in the Middle in Pa. Dear It's too late to completely rectify the situation, but I think your wife is right on both counts. Your only hope is to agree to name your son after you and pray for a girl. NIGHT TIME COMFORT SLEEP AND LOUNGEWEAR Save on our entire stock of gowns, robes, pajamas and dusters in warm, comfortable fabrics.

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