Crossword Genius

Material mother makes on request (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

damask

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'material' is the definition.
(I know that damask is a type of material)

'mother makes on request' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'mother' could be 'dam' (female parent of an animal) and 'dam' is found in the answer.
'request' could be 'ask' (to ask is to request something) and 'ask' is located in the answer.
No letters remain.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for damask that I've seen before include "Cloth, originally Syrian" , "Patterned material" , "Figured material" , "Rich, heavy fabric with a pattern woven into it, a tablecloth say" , "reversible material" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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