Sew what?

HEM

["Here’s a helpful hint for the clue \"Sew what?\":\n\n**\"It's the edge of a garment that's often folded and stitched.\"**\n\nThis hint:\n- Points to the sewing context implied by \"sew.\"\n- Describes the function of a \"hem\" without using the word itself.\n- Avoids repeating the original clue or giving away the answer directly."]

The clue "Sew what?" is a playful pun that leads to the answer "HEM." Here's how it works: 1. **Surface Meaning**: The phrase "Sew what?" sounds like "So what?"—a casual, dismissive response. This misdirection makes the solver think beyond the literal meaning. 2. **Wordplay**: The word "sew" is a homophone for "so," hinting that the answer is related to sewing. A "hem" is a common sewing term referring to the edge of a piece of fabric that is folded and sewn to prevent fraying. 3. **Pun Connection**: The clue cleverly combines the sound-alike phrase "So what?" with the sewing theme, leading to "hem" as the answer. Thus, the answer "HEM" fits both the sound-based wordplay and the sewing context implied by "sew."