Complain as jeans are turned up without the slightest bit of needlework (6)
I believe the answer is:
snivel
'complain' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'jeans are turned up without the slightest bit of needlework' is the wordplay.
'jeans' becomes 'levis' (Levi's is a brand of jeans).
'are turned up' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'without' is an insertion indicator ('without' can be similar in meaning to 'outside').
'the slightest bit of needlework' becomes 'n' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'levis' in reverse letter order is 'sivel'.
'sivel' enclosing 'n' is 'SNIVEL'.
'as' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for snivel that I've seen before include "Whimper" , "Whine tearfully (through the nose?)" , "moan" , "Blub revoltingly" , "Cry in miserable whining way" .)