LETTER BANK XL

 

NY Times Crossword 

October 29, 2023

Alina Abidi

 

FABRIC - ATIONS

The two clues in each pair below can be answered by words made up of the same letters, although all the letters may not be used, and those used may be repeated as necessary. Additionally, the letters can be anagrammed into the name of a kind of fabric. The last clue hints at the clever theme of this puzzle. 

 

For example, given the clues

Precursor to the main act

Tending to make mistakes,

 

the answers would be OPENER and ERROR PRONE - from which you can extract NEOPRENE.

 

1. Christmas building material

    Stay up all night finishing a book, perhaps

 

2. Congressional post

    Thumbs-up meaning

 

3. Grabbing distance

    Philadelphia specialty

 

4. Having similar qualities - or what the three answer pairs in this puzzle are?

 

Answers:

 

1. GINGERBREAD

    BINGE READ - - - GABARDINE

 

2. SENATE SEAT

    ASSENT - - - SATEEN

 

3. ARMS' REACH 

    CREAM CHEESE - - - CASHMERE 

 

4. Cut from the same cloth