NYT Strands today — hints, spangram and answers for game #188 (Saturday, September 7 2024)

NYT Strands on a cellphone
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide/NY Times/Shutterstock)
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Need a bit of help with NYT Strands today? Today's puzzle theme — "Know your material" — isn't hugely cryptic, but still requires a bit of specialist knowledge.

Below, we've compiled some useful hints for Strands #188, as well as the answers, should it come to that. We'll start off with some clues, before building up to the full answer for Strands #188, so read on if you need a little help.

Warning: Spoilers lie ahead for Strands #188.  

Today's NYT Strands answer — Today's theme and hints

The official theme for NYT Strands #188 is... "Know your material".

And here's an unofficial hint from me: "Textiles."

If you're still in the dark, here are some useful words to give you those valuable clue tokens:

  • BINDERS
  • SPADE
  • SUIT
  • MINDER
  • SAINT
  • PASTE

Still struggling? The spangram will give you a hint about the connection word. Today, it starts with 'F' and ends in 'C'.

Scroll down to find out what it is...

It's FABRIC.

Today's Strands answers

So, what are today's Strands answers for game #188?

Drumroll, please...

  • VELVET
  • CHIFFON
  • MUSLIN
  • SATIN
  • JERSEY
  • DENIM
  • SPANDEX

Strands #188

(Image credit: Alan Martin)

..and the spangram was FABRIC.

Strands #188

“Know your material”

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Hi Strands fans. This one didn't cause me too many problems. The theme of "Know your material" immediately made me think of clothing materials, and sure enough, I spotted VELVET right away, followed by CHIFFON immediately above it. 

The spangam of FABRIC - spelt backwards across the middle of the board - followed.

The 'X' in the top right corner was giving me problems, so I tackled the bottom half of the grid first, starting with MUSLIN just below the spangram and SATIN underneath that.  JERSEY and DEMIN completed the lower half, both on the right-hand side.

That just left the dreaded top corner, but I got there in the end. The 'X' was, of course, part of SPANDEX.

Yesterday's Strands answers

Reading this in a later time zone? You can find the full article on yesterday's Strands answers for game #187 right here.

Alan Martin

Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.