Open-weave fabric

SCRIM

This lightweight material is often used as a base for needlework or to reinforce plaster, with a loose grid-like structure. You might find it in theater backdrops or old-fashioned window screens.

"Open-weave fabric" describes a lightweight, loosely woven material often used in theater backdrops or upholstery. The answer is "SCRIM," a type of gauze-like fabric that’s sturdy yet sheer enough to let light pass through. It’s a straightforward definition with no wordplay—just a direct match between the clue and the term. If you’ve ever seen a stage set with a hazy, semi-transparent curtain, that’s likely scrim in action.