A proverbial labour-saver (1,6,2,4)
I believe the answer is:
a stitch in time
'labour-saver' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'a proverbial' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'a' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'stitchintime' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for a stitch in time that I've seen before include "prompt repair" , "Nine saver?" , "Something that proverbially saves nine" .)