Hook tailors originally used in handicraft (8)
I believe the answer is:
crotchet
'handicraft' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'hook tailors originally used in' is the wordplay.
'hook' becomes 'crochet' (synonyms).
'tailors originally' becomes 't' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'used in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'crochet' placed around 't' is 'CROTCHET'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for crotchet that I've seen before include "Peacock's castle" , "Fancy" , "Two quavers as one note" , "In music, it has quarter the time value of a whole note" , "Musical note equal to half a minim" .)