Staff holding stuff to be ropy work (7)
I believe the answer is:
macrame
'be ropy work' is the definition.
(type of textile formed with knots)
'staff holding stuff' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'stuff' could be 'cram' (cramming is a kind of stuffing) and 'cram' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'mae' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for macrame that I've seen before include "Ornamental work of knotted cord" , "Decorative knotted work" , "Knotted-string work" , "ropy work" , "Knotted thread work" .)