WoW Classic Tailoring - Alternate Cheap Leveling 1-300 Methods

Classic Posted 2019/10/02 at 2:13 AM by RenataKane

IntroductionThe Economical Guide to Smithing, or, Making mail without losing your shirt.Concepts Behind Cheapskate Tailoring

vendor materials

acquiring other farmed materials

acquiring recipes

selling the finished products

Materials Cost

Cost of Vendor Purchased Mats + Opportunity Cost of Farmed/Crafted Materials = Final Cost

Opportunity CostNever sell an item on the Auction House below the Opportunity Cost.

Example 1: A Bolt of Linen Cloth sells to a vendor for . Tailoring vendors sell Coarse Thread for and Bleach for . A White Linen Shirt that takes 1 Bolt of Linen Cloth, 1 Coarse Thread and 1 Bleach has an opportunity cost of . The same White Linen Shirt sells to a vendor for , so the Profit/Loss on a White Linen Shirt is 0. It's a break-even recipe.

Example 2: Tailoring vendors sell Fine Thread for , and Green Dye for . A Green Linen Shirt takes 3 Bolt of Linen Cloth, 1 Fine Thread and 1 Green Dye, so its opportunity cost is . The Green Linen Shirt sells to a vendor for , so selling it to a vendor will result in a loss.

Vendor Components Deconstructed

Bleach:

Blue Dye & Red Dye:

Green Dye:

Gray Dye:

Yellow Dye:

Black Dye & Orange Dye:

Pink Dye & Purple Dye:

BleachBlue DyeRed DyeSeven Rules of the Cheapskate Tailor

Farm, don't buy.
Unless by some miracle you can find cloth or other components on sale for below vendor price, do your own farming.

Avoid recipes that use items you can't farm yourself.
For example, if you aren't an herbalist (and don't have one in your stable of alts), don't use recipes that need herbs. You'll end up paying a lot more for them on the AH. (There are a couple exceptions to this with two high-profit items where you will need components from Skinning. See if you can work out a deal; it's worth it in this case)

Avoid recipes that use items crafted by other professions.
Profession-created items include Alchemy components such as potions or Ghost Dye, Iron Buckles from Blacksmithing. It's highly likely you'd pay far more for these items than the end product is worth. Even in cases where you can make these on other characters or can get a deal from a friend, these are almost always money losers.

Never using dyes higher than Bleach, Blue Dye, and Red Dye.
As it turns out, higher level dyes are nearly always used in the most expensive (money-losing) recipes.

Never make shirts or other cosmetic items for skill.
They are the #1 money losers of any single category. Out of the 34 cosmetic items, 25 had a rate of return of 50% or less and 15 rated at 25% or less. Because of the dyes, they are more expensive to make, and they sell for a pittance at vendors. They also don't auction well on less developed servers because they are 100% cosmetic. Players still struggling to pay for skills every two levels aren't spending hard earned cash on shirts and dresses.

If you're really short on cash, you don't even need to learn all the tailoring recipes right away.
Follow this method and you'll only need to pick the 11-12 trainer recipes required to skill up, as well as 2-3 vendor-purchased recipes.

Understand what items generally lose more or less money than others. You can figure this out by adding up the prices of the raw materials, and then determine what they sell for, either to the vendor or to the Auction House. Selling below Vendor Cost is only part of your problem; don't sell below Opportunity Cost.

Categories of Money Makers and Money Losers

Bolts: 109%

Bags (except Specialty Bags)*: 80%

Pants: 70%

Helms: 62%

Cloak: 61%

Chest: 60%

Shoulders: 57%

Boots: 48%

Belts: 47%

Gloves: 41%

Specialty Bags*: 37%

Cosmetic Items: 35%

The Cheapskate Tailoring Method: "Bolts & Bags"

making Bolts of Cloth until they grey out (you'll usually need all of these and more to complete your tasks)

making the most profitable Bags from an opportunity/vendor cost standpoint

filling in as necessary with some of the most cost-effective tailored items.

Everyone needs bagsDreamweave Circletdozens Shopping ListFarmed

150-180 Linen Cloth

300 Wool Cloth

600 or 800 Silk Cloth (depends on path)

800 Mageweave Cloth

900 to 1080 Runecloth (depends on path)

Farmed from Other Profession

50 Heavy Leather (optional)

70 Rugged Leather (optional)

Vendor Items

75 Coarse Thread

155 Fine Thread

120 Silken Thread

70 or 80 Rune Thread (depends on path)

18 Red Dye

150 Blue Dye (100 optional)

Vendor-Purchased Recipes

Pattern: Red Woolen Bag

Pattern: Azure Silk Cloak

Pattern: Runecloth Bag (optional)

Levels and Recipes1-50: Bolt of Linen Cloth - about 90 bolts

Each = 2 Linen Cloth. Opportunity Cost: . Sell to Vendor: . Score: 154%

Needed: 180 Linen Cloth

This is actually more than you will use -- you only need 75 -- but this recipe is stubborn about giving up its last points. If you're ever in a position where you need to vendor linen, always always ALWAYS combine it into bolts before selling. Feel free to stop any time after 75.

50-75: Linen Bag - 25 bags

Each = 3 Bolt of Linen Cloth + 3 Coarse Thread. Opportunity Cost: . Sell to Vendor: . Score: 133%.

Needed: 75 Bolt of Linen Cloth, 75 Coarse Thread

75-107: Bolt of Woolen Cloth - 50 bolts (will need 100 bolts to complete all projects)

Each = 3 Wool Cloth. Opportunity Cost: . Sell to Vendor: . Score: 101%.

Needed: 150 Wool Cloth

107-115: Woolen Bag - 12 bags

Each = 3 Bolt of Woolen Cloth, 1 Fine Thread. Opportunity Cost: . Sell to Vendor: . Score: 75%.

Needed: 36 Bolt of Woolen Cloth, 12 Fine Thread

This is the first item where you'll lose some money if you choose to vendor the bags. However, you should be able to sell these at more than on the Auction House; just be sure to account for AH fees and deposits when you do.

115-125: Red Woolen Bag, Part 1 - 10 bags

Each = 4 Bolt of Woolen Cloth + 1 Red Dye + 1 Fine Thread. Opportunity cost: . Sell to Vendor: . Score: 127%.

Needed: 40 Bolt of Woolen Cloth, 10 Red Dye, 10 Fine Thread

Pattern: Red Woolen Bag is sold by several vendors, so you can easily acquire a copy. The pattern costs . It's a recipe that the vendor will not always have in stock, so it may take a couple tries to get it. It's very much worth the effort, since this recipe has one of the higher rates of return, even if you are forced to vendor some of your bags. You will use this again after greying out Bolts of Silk.

125-145: Bolt of Silk Cloth - 40 bolts (will need 150 bolts to complete all projects)

Each = 4 Silk Cloth. Opportunity cost: . Sell to Vendor: . Score: 100%.

Needed: 160 Silk Cloth. (Will need 600 total for 150 Bolt of Silk Cloth to complete all projects)

145-150: Red Woolen Bag, Part 2 - 8 Bags

Needed: 24 Bolt of Woolen Cloth, 8 Red Dye, 8 Fine Thread

150-175 Small Silk Pack - 25 bags (see below for Non-Leather Alternate Path)

Each = 3 Bolt of Silk Cloth , 3 Fine Thread, 2 Heavy Leather. Opportunity cost: . Sell to Vendor: . Score: 90%.

Needed: 75 Bolt of Silk Cloth , 75 Fine Thread, 50 Heavy Leather

This is one of two recipes that breaks the no-farming rule, but in this case, it's likely you'll be able to sell Small Silk Packs on the Auction House for more than the opportunity cost. Be sure to calculate in the additional opportunity cost of Medium Leather if you're forced to buy it on the Auction House (it only accounts for a total in the original OC calculation).

(Non-Leather Alternate Path Instead of Small Silk Pack)

150-175 Azure Silk Vest (25 vests)

Each = 5 Bolt of Silk Cloth , 4 Blue Dye. Opportunity cost: . Sell to Vendor: . Score: 59%.
Needed: 125 Bolt of Silk Cloth , 100 Blue Dye
If you don't want to deal with acquiring Heavy Leather, you can use this as an alternate route between 150-175. Believe it or not, this is the least money-losing item that requires no farmed ingredients in this level range. It does use considerably more silk. Not a great alternative, but it does avoid the leather.

175-185 Bolt of Mageweave - 30 bolts (will need 160 bolts to complete all projects)

Each = 5 Mageweave Cloth. Opportunity cost: . Sell to vendor: . Score: 100%.

Needed: 150 Mageweave Cloth

185-205 Azure Silk Cloak - 25 Cloaks

Each: 3 Bolt of Silk Cloth + 2 . Sell to vendor: . Score: 107%.

Needed: 75 Bolt of Silk Cloth, 50 Fine Thread, 50 Blue Dye

Pattern: Azure Silk Cloak is sold by two vendors: Brienna Starglow in Feralas and Jun'ha in Arathi Highlands. The recipe costs , but you'll make that up in fewer than 10 combines, even if you can't sell even one of these on the Auction House for above the OC.

205-225 Black Mageweave Leggings - 20 Pants

Each = 2 Bolt of Mageweave, 3 Silken Thread. Opportunity cost: . Sell to vendor: . Score: 121%.

Needed: 40 Bolt of Mageweave, 60 Silken Thread

These pants are favorites of those wishing to make certain bold style statements, so these are popular Auction House offerings. Even if you have to vendor them, though, you won't lose above vendoring the components.

225-250 Mageweave Bag - 30 Bags

Each = 4 Bolt of Mageweave, 2 Silken Thread. Opportunity cost: . Sell to vendor: . Score: 42%.

Needed: 120 Bolt of Mageweave, 60 Silken Thread

Mageweave Bag is one of two bags that has a poor vendoring outcome. However, these are in high-enough demand that as long as you can sell for better than the OC, you'll do just fine for profit. There are also no other recipes in this level range that will get you through this same bridge which will do much better, so go with what you can easily sell on the Auction House.

250-260 Bolt of Runecloth - 20 Bolts (will need either 225 or 270 bolts to complete all projects)

Each: 5 Runecloth. Opportunity cost: . Sell to vendor: . Score: 100%

Needed: 80 Runecloth

Bolt of Runecloth has a very short skillup window. It won't take you many to finish the ten points, even as quickly as it turns green.

260-290 Runecloth Bag - 35 bags (see below for Non-Leather Alternate Path)

Each: 5 Bolt of Runecloth, 2 Rugged Leather, 1 Rune Thread. Opportunity cost: . Sell to vendor: . Score: 31%.

Needed: 150 Bolt of Runecloth, 70 Rugged Leather, 35 Rune Thread

Pattern: Runecloth Bagis sold for from Qia in Winterspring

This actually isn't the most cost-effective method, but it's the most lucrative. It uses a lot more Runecloth (you'll use another 40 Runecloth getting to 300 for closing the gap between 290 and 300, for a total of 190 Runecloth), but the Runecloth Bags WILL sell. Just be sure you can sell them for above the OC if at all possible.

Non-Leather Alternate Path Instead of Runecloth Bag

260-285: Runecloth Belt - 30 Belts

Each: 3 Bolt of Runecloth, Rune Thread. Opportunity cost: . Sell to vendor: . Score: 86%.
Needed: 90 Bolt of Runecloth, 30 Rune Thread
This method doesn't require the Rugged Leather to make, so use this if you can't get Rugged Leather at a good enough price to justify making them for profit (the Rugged Leather counts for in Opportunity Cost).

285 or 290-300: Runecloth Belt - Up to 45 Belts

Each: 3 Bolt of Runecloth, Rune Thread. Opportunity cost: . Sell to vendor: . Score: 86%.

Needed: Up to 145 Bolt of Runecloth, 45Rune Thread

It's the last recipe you can get from a trainer; nearly all the recipes after this are rare drops and difficult to obtain.

It remains the highest rate of return for materials of any item after 255.

It is one of only a couple recipes that has no farmed materials (the other recipes are all Mooncloth recipes, which have their own challenges).

Wizardweave LeggingsCindercloth PantsFrostweave PantsRunecloth BeltDream DustEssence of FireEssence of WaterBurning CrusadeWorld of WarcastFor the Horde!

Comment by YlseraWow this is amazing! Thank you very much, this will help my tailor a lot!Comment by kolmoneIt's worth noting that at this point the Runecloth Bag recipe is being camped and you're unlikely to get it for the vendor price, at least on high population realms.Comment by TuzzakOne thing to also keep in mind is that some of the higher level greens you can craft can also be disenchanted into mats that are an even bigger profit. You only need a level 5 character with enchanting to be able to do this yourself.Comment by OrganickThanks for putting the time into making this guide! I wound up doing several of these along the way because I wasn't flush with gold. I also got a lot more points than most guides say to get from bags because guildies (and alts) needed them as we were leveling up.Comment by salateurIf only I had time to camp the pattern for Runecloth Bag...
I had my own methods to lvl up tailoring :|
Leveled up it more expensive way, but... Runecloth bag is defo hard to catch :DComment by RenataKaneThat's another reason I added the Runecloth Belt option. Not nearly as lucrative, but easier to do if all you want to do is get to 300.Comment by IzichialI'd still add a pretty hefty warning about how difficult it is to get the Runecloth Bag pattern to that section of the guide. I moved to one of the smaller servers in EU for a guild merge and Qia is still camped by multiple people from both factions are all hours, and it was something like 40G to buy the pattern on AH last time I checked.

I can also say that it's worth looking into Brightcloth items for 270-300; the patterns are drops much like the alternatives listed in the 285-300 range but the items are functionally worthless so patterns can sometimes be grabbed for cheap, and gold bars are far, far less in demand than dust and the essences. They also stay orange for a decent while. I did most of 270-300 with Brightcloth Cloak and it cost me perhaps 65-70s for the thread and gold bars per cloak, which vendors for 97s (they also disenchant for an average for 3.5 average Dream Dust due to being ilvl 55 which can significantly increase what you can get back from it depending on server economy if you can be bothered).Comment by Halio801Well thought out guide with great info!

The different suggested crafts in this guide to get to 300 apply to someone that doesn't also have enchanting. If you have enchanting as your second profession, or even have an alt that you'd like to level enchanting on, this guide changes quite a bit. You'll likely prioritize some of the easier to make green items over making so many of each bag. I think you get a lot more out of it if you're also leveling enchanting.

Also.. making so many of each bag might look good on paper? Maybe? But you're not selling those things on the AH right now. The market is so flooded with bags..(except runecloth bags) Those things are getting vendored for bank space for sure. I might consider a recipe that takes less bolts of cloth and can still be vendored for a fair amount. Don't discount crafting some of the common items.Comment by Kerubthis is FANTASTIC! thanksComment by RenataKaneIf you notice, there are alternate paths for the two bags with very low vendor sellback prices -- Azure Silk Vest for Small Silk Packs and Runecloth Belts for Runecloth Bags. Unfortunately in the case of the first pairing, there aren't any really good (less money losing) alternatives in that level range. The Runecloth Belt is a good alternative for the Runecloth Bag though.Comment by ZibooMuch appreciated sharing your guide with us. Kind of how I level most professions - cheapest way possible!Comment by hotaru251Threee recipesComment by mukasWhy does the guide not even mention the fact that getting the Runecloth Bag recipe will probably take several days of camping and a huge amount of luck? I've tried for 10+ hours of actually sitting there and spamming macros to buy it and haven't gotten it. Only way you can just go there and buy it is if you're on a dead realm.Comment by ghostintheruinsThis is an amazingly useful guide. We need guides like this for every profession if we don't already have them, because we all know that young characters in Classic struggle with money.Comment by RunicCrafterMageweave bag is yellow at 240, 240 - 250 should be Red Mageweave bag.

I'd still add a pretty hefty warning about how difficult it is to get the Runecloth Bag pattern to that section of the guide. I moved to one of the smaller servers in EU for a guild merge and Qia is still camped by multiple people from both factions are all hours, and it was something like 40G to buy the pattern on AH last time I checked.

I can also say that it's worth looking into Brightcloth items for 270-300; the patterns are drops much like the alternatives listed in the 285-300 range but the items are functionally worthless so patterns can sometimes be grabbed for cheap, and gold bars are far, far less in demand than dust and the essences. They also stay orange for a decent while. I did most of 270-300 with Brightcloth Cloak and it cost me perhaps 65-70s for the thread and gold bars per cloak, which vendors for 97s (they also disenchant for an average for 3.5 average Dream Dust due to being ilvl 55 which can significantly increase what you can get back from it depending on server economy if you can be bothered).