Just over an inch needed for top design (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
fair isle
'top design' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'just over an inch' is the wordplay.
'just' becomes 'fair' (just can mean fair in the sense of showing justice).
'over' says to put letters next to each other (in a down clue, some letters go over others).
'an inch' becomes 'isle' (I've seen this before).
'fair'+'isle'='FAIR ISLE'
'needed for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fair isle that I've seen before include "Traditional knitwear design" , "Type of knitwear design" , "British shipping forecast area - style of knitwear" , "Multicoloured geometric knitting style" , "decorative knitting pattern" .)