Yearn to cook over soft table linen (6)
I believe the answer is:
napery
'table linen' is the definition.
('napery' can be a synonym of 'table linen')
'yearn to cook over soft' is the wordplay.
'to cook' is an anagram indicator.
'over' indicates putting letters inside.
'soft' becomes 'p' (musical abbreviation for 'piano').
'yearn' is an anagram of 'naery'.
'naery' enclosing 'p' is 'NAPERY'.
(Other definitions for napery that I've seen before include "Heavy white table linen" , "Linens for the dining table" , "Scots tablecloth" , "Tablecloths, napkins etc" , "Household fourteen across" .)