CCCWC January competition voters’ comments

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A clue to CASHMERE.
106 comments were received for this competition (from 11 competitors, 1 other)
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Comments on the competition
1.
A lot of clues to judge this month! Some very fine clue-writing was in evidence for the first competition of the new year and it was tough to pick out my favourites. I dished out a plethora of merits to clues which I enjoyed but didn't quite make it to my top half-dozen. Understandably there were a plenty of CASH + MERE clues (7, 13, 24, 25, 28, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 52 – and I might have missed one or two). While almost all of them were sound, clues really had to stand out to score – so much direct comparison was possible. I chose 7, 28 and 41, mainly for the strength of their surface readings. There was a smaller number of CAS(HMER)E clues and again I felt I could only reward the top two. This time 29 and 26 earned the points – I particularly liked 29's cheeky surface! We also saw some very good attempts at the &lit clue (19, 20, 32, 53, 54, 57), many of which I thought were very worthy entries, all scoring at least a merit. 54 really did feel exceptional and earned my highest score – a clue of the highest calibre. More original ideas included 6, 8 and 11 and 18 which all earned points from me. I enjoyed the two clues (18 and 41) which used "butter" as a definition (which I thought was fair enough) – particularly 18 for its general neatness. Interestingly, Chambers lists cashmere as only the fabric (the goat listed only under Kashmir), but even the briefest of references to the Internet shows that the goat can most definitely be spelled both ways. The only difficulty I had was sharing out my points among all the worthy clues! Unfortunately it really couldn't be done whilst still awarding the best sufficiently highly, so some had to make do with only a merit. What a super start to the year – I hope all the competitions continue at this standard!
2.
This is my first time for submitting a clue, and I think the way the competition is organised, and the ease of using the site is great. I prefer those clues where the definition is clearly at the beginning, unless of course it's an &lit. I am not generally in favour of using references in subsidiary indications which could be classed as general knowledge of the kind on which quiz questions are based, and you either know it or you don't. I think there are enough 'ordinary' words in popular dictionaries which can be used in clues.

Comments on the clues

1. A schemer arranges for the fabric got from the goat's wool

1.	It's just a bit flat, if I'm honest. The definition is too direct and makes the answer completely obvious. Compare with (say) 2.
2.	Definition seems unnecessarily detailed

2. A schemer spins a fine yarn

1.	The stand-out clue for me. Very neat.
2.	I struggle a little bit with "yarn" (a thread) for cashmere (a fabric), but the clue is so neat it has to score something.
3.	Neat, top marks.
4.	Simple but highly effective
5.	A good tight clue which is cleverly misleading in terms of the definition, especially as the anagram indicator is so apt.
6.	Very nice indeed but can't help feeling many of these anagrams must have been done countless times before.

3. America blocked for Middle East where the chips are down (8)

1.	I can't work out the wordplay – 'where' is redundant I think
2.	A nice piece of construction for a topical clue.
3.	Either 'where' should be 'in', or else 'are' is doing double duty.

4. An outline of Cecilia followed by the Sound of Silence: pure, soft stuff

1.	A creative idea, but the "an outline of" doesn't really sit well in the surface unfortunately.

5. Came about square bit of hessian, concerned with material

1.	Surface flows quite well and a solid construction.

6. Chain stores like nothing more than a desirable fabric

1.	Misleading wordplay and a fluent surface. Very good.
2.	Convincing surface and an original construction. Everything I'm looking for.
3.	Solution beautifully encrypted in a statement straight out of a 1950s Woman's Weekly. Superb clue, well done.
4.	Very clever wordplay and convincing surface.
5.	A good construction which leads the solver to think that 'Chain stores' could be the definition.

7. Country singer sticking to simple material

1.	One of the neatest CASH + MERE clues.

8. Cream he's churned for butter

1.	I like this clue. One could argue that "butter" isn't a perfect definition but I think it's good enough. Maybe add a question mark?
2.	Nice but relies on a very well-worn crossword pun
3.	Can't see cashmere defined as a goat anywhere.
4.	Nice idea, but cashmere (nor kashmir) is the goat itself. '… butter product' might have worked
5.	Cashmere is not a butter or a goat.
6.	A goat or butter is not cashmere.

9. Fabric box conceals two queens (8)

1.	Whilst completely sound, this just doesn't stand up to some of the other HM+ER in CASE clues in its surface.

10. Fake tan with this fabric might be accepted in Manchester

1.	I always struggle with compound anagrams but I think this one is a worthy contender.
2.	Worth a point for making me smile :-)

11. Fine cloth to wrap dead body, concealing remains (male)

1.	A very fine clue. The surface reads very well (the bracketed MALE at the end just takes the shine off slightly) and an original construction

12. Fine clothing for the Queen now, and again when lying in state

1.	I've not seen "and again" to indicate a different set of letters from the first time. Is that OK? It feels a bit iffy!

14. Fine wool used to alter hems with care

1.	Perfectly sound but just comes across as a little uninspired when compared with some of the other stellar offerings.

15. Goat's down: hairy, sheer, cozy material tops llama's ultimately.

1.	"llama's ultimately" surely indicates S? I would say for an A you would need "llama ultimately" or "llama's ultimate".
2.	a is 'llama ultimately', but not 'llama's'
3.	Original (and true).

16. Hair dishevelled? Search me!

1.	"Hair" for CASHMERE is a bit of a distant definition for me. And I don't really get the surface reading.

17. Harem's chief clobber? Take off if hot!

1.	Nice surface but &lit definition a stretch and both anagram indicators in unnatural position relative to fodder
2.	I don't see how 'x clobber' can mean 'rearrange x'

18. Has council’s first swimming pool worn down?

1.	A well-disguised cryptic definition and a pleasing clue.
2.	Surely down can only mean feathers? Good construction though

19. Hermès knit, answer to cold northerly?

1.	It just feels a bit clunky to me. "Northerly" is a bit contrived – and is all Hermès cashmere?
2.	Can you reverse an anagram?! I would read this as HERMES* + reversal of AC, not a reversal of (EREMHS,A,C)
3.	For this to work you have to create an anagram then reverse it, which doesn't make sense

20. I can blanket Her Majesty The Queen in case her same cold appears anew

1.	This is a fair attempt at an &lit clue, but lots of excess around the edges for the cryptic reading. Compare with the much tighter 54.
2.	Nice double wordplay

21. I'm very soft – quietly, I'm put into care

1.	I don't really get the surface reading.
2.	I can't accept 'I'm' = 'me is'

22. I'm warm and fuzzy and bursting with charm, see

1.	This clue rather pleases me, and yet I can't really see why! It just makes me feel cheerful :)

25. just enough for a popular method of payment

1.	You also need to a definition of the clue-word, and CASH and MERE should appear in that order (or you need something to indicate otherwise).
2.	Cryptic clues need to have a definition, avoid stray words, use very precise synonyms and indicate the order of elements clearly
3.	Seems to be missing a definition.
4.	Where is the other part?
5.	Doesn't seem to contain a definition.

26. Legal argument surrounding Her Majesty the Queen – it's woolly

1.	I think you manage to disguise the definition in a convincing surface reading. Definitely one of the best CAS(HM+ER)E clues.

27. Let's give M & S a cheer after designing these fine woolly jumpers?

1.	The "Let's give" has no place in the cryptic reading.
2.	"let's give" is superfluous
3.	Who are M & S?
4.	"after" makes it clumsy

28. Lolly, trivial stuff that some grown-up kids may give up?

1.	A clever definition which I think works. Pleased me anyway. Without doubt my favourite CASH + MERE clue.
2.	Great definition. The charade is ok, but could possibly have been even better.
3.	Def doesn't really sit well with singular 'Lolly' – 'thing that a grown-up kid may give up?' would have been better I think.

29. Male in suit is wearing a certain female's soft woolly knickers, etc.

1.	This clue tickled me! I had no idea you could get cashmere knickers (until Google proved me wrong). Have a point.
2.	Wordplay seems to indicate M in case in her

30. Material Archimedes translated I'd unfortunately overlooked

1.	I'm not keen on 'anagrams' of two letter words

32. Mercer has an array of this, right?

1.	Very nice!
2.	About the best of the & lits.
3.	Nice idea, but doesn't work structurally – needs something like 'You'll find …' at the front.
4.	Clever and original

33. Money, just a cold comfort? (8)

1.	I don't really like "a cold comfort" as a definition for CASHMERE – it's a bit vague.
2.	Not quite enough to clinch the definition?

34. Money, nothing more, is the fabric of society (8)

1.	"the fabric of society" is just too far removed as a definition for me.
2.	Merit for witty definition! But needs to be "nothing more than"

35. Money, nothing more than that gets you fine wool garment (8)

1.	Compared with some of the other offerings this one is just a little plain!

36. Mum and me objectively care about nanny’s outward material wellbeing

1.	How is "mum" SH? And what's the "wellbeing" doing in the cryptic reading (or the "objectively" for that matter)?
2.	Don't you mean 'mum and I objectively'?

39. Only after folding will this keep you warm? (8)

1.	"Folding" for CASH?

40. Only after money for sweater.

1.	Fine, but just not as pleasing as many of the other clues.

41. Plain bread first – could be butter?

1.	Lovely definition and a neat reading. Not quite as good as 54 (which uses the same definition) but still worthy of points.
2.	'butter' doesn't work – see 8
3.	Cashmere is neither butter nor goat.
4.	Butter = goat BUT not cashmere.

42. Scream? He did, for it was extremely hairy!

1.	"it was extremely hairy" really doesn't work as a definition for CASHMERE in my book!

43. "Search me! I don't know what wool!" (8)

1.	Not keen on that anagram indicator
2.	Cleverest clue!

44. Shaky man, lacking nerves at first, starts cutting sheer goat's hair.

1.	The first time I attempted cutting goat's hair I, too, was a tad nervous.

45. Sounds like Led Zep material?

1.	So material is doing double duty. Otherwise separating the definition gives "sounds like led zep" wordplay which kills it! Great song though
2.	I'm afraid this clue would probably be the last one I would tackle in a crossword, and it would require a Google search as Led Zep material
3.	Quite a stretch to come up with answer.

46. Sweater, perhaps, salvaged from cream she spilt.

1.	I don't follow how the surface reading works here. What has sweater got to do with spilt cream?

47. The wrappings of Cassandra’s present, Mark interposed, evoke an expensive fabric

1.	How is the solver supposed to know to take exactly CAS from "wrappings of Cassandra's"?

48. To keep me loose 50% of cereal has to be fibre

1.	A pleasing and totally original construction.
2.	Cryptic reading works well with 'loose' as a transitive verb. Clever.
3.	'To' and 'to be' are a bit clunky
4.	An original take. Cryptic syntax of "To keep" slightly iffy. Otherwise this clue would have scored even more highly.

49. With no suggestion of doubt, meerschaum's transformed into a soft material.

1.	I struggle with the surface reading here (and in 50) – meerschaum is a clay. How can it be a soft material?

50. Without doubt, meerschaum can be moulded into a very fine soft product.

1.	I don't like the surface reading of this one (as in 49) – meerschaum is a clay. Once moulded would it still be soft?
2.	um is not doubt, it's an indication/expression of doubt (see clue 49) which is how the clue should be couched.

52. Woolen bought with readies. Simple!

1.	The spelling of 'woollen' looked wrong, but I see it's the US one

53. Woolly fabric regularly hems end of nape

1.	A unique construction but "end of nape" feels rather forced and the whole clue a little stilted.

54. Woolly merchandise India's exported?

1.	A concise and sharp &lit clue worth lots of points.
2.	Nearly excellent but convention requires a second anagram indicator, and IND from India is indirect
3.	Good idea, but I don't think 'India' can indicate an anagram of 'IND' for removal. 57 does this better.
4.	Nearly works, but as IND is actually NDI it needs a separate anagram indicator – 'woolly' can't do for both.

55. Worry about ridiculous hems exposing something hairy

1.	"Something hairy" is just too weak a definition for me.

57. Woven merchandise no doubt Indians originally exported

1.	A very good clue and definitely worth something – but outdone on the same theme by the even better 54.