Crossword Genius

Yearned after length of yarn, made a mistake right away (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hankered

'yearned' is the definition.
('hanker' can be a synonym of 'yearn')

'length of yarn made a mistake right away' is the wordplay.
'length of yarn' becomes 'hank' (I've seen this in another clue).
'made a mistake' becomes 'erred' ('err' can be a synonym of 'make a mistake').
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'away' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'erred' with 'r' removed is 'ered'.
'hank'+'ered'='HANKERED'

'after' is the link.

(Another definition for hankered that I've seen is " Longed, yearned".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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