Tailoring in TBC Classic is the go-to profession for cloth wearers who want raid-ready gear, exclusive leg spellthreads, the biggest bags in the game, and a reliable gold engine through specialized cloth cooldowns. This walkthrough takes you from skill 1 to 375 on the cheapest viable route, with exact skill ranges, material counts, trainer locations, and a clear plan for the three end-game specializations.

Why Level Tailoring in TBC Classic

Tailoring pairs best with Mages, Warlocks, and Priests because it crafts cloth armor, and unlike most professions it does not need a gathering partner — the cloth drops from humanoids you already kill while questing. Its standout perks are spellthread leg enchants (the cloth equivalent of leatherworking's armor kits), large bags, and the famous cooldown cloths that print gold all expansion long.

If you would rather skip the grind entirely, PewPewShop offers a TBC Classic profession boost that takes Tailoring from 1 to 375 for you while you play the parts of the game you actually enjoy.

Materials Checklist (1-375)

Buy or farm these before you start so you never break your leveling rhythm. Quantities are approximate and assume some greens that grant fractional skill-ups.

  • Linen Cloth: ~180
  • Wool Cloth: ~165
  • Silk Cloth: ~225
  • Mageweave Cloth: ~280
  • Runecloth: ~375
  • Netherweave Cloth: ~1,000 (about 500 bolts)
  • Dyes: Gray, Blue, and Red Dye for the cheapest recipes
  • Thread: Coarse, Fine, Silken, Heavy Silken, and Rune Thread from any trade-goods vendor
  • Specialization reagent: Primal Fire/Air/Water/Mana depending on which cloth you craft at 350+

TBC Classic Tailoring Skill Range Table

Use this as your at-a-glance route. Each row lists the recommended craft and the cloth tier it relies on.

Skill RangeRecommended CraftPrimary Material
1-45Brown Linen Pants / VestLinen Cloth
45-70Reinforced Linen CapeLinen Cloth
70-105Woolen Cape / BootsWool Cloth
105-125Gray Woolen ShirtWool Cloth + Gray Dye
125-160Double-stitched Woolen ShouldersWool / Silk Cloth
160-175Azure Silk HoodSilk Cloth + Blue Dye
175-205Crimson Silk VestMageweave Cloth + Red Dye
205-230Black Mageweave Leggings / GlovesMageweave Cloth
230-250Black Mageweave RobeMageweave Cloth
250-280Runecloth Belt / GlovesRunecloth
280-300Runecloth Headband / PantsRunecloth
300-325Bolt of NetherweaveNetherweave Cloth
325-350Netherweave Pants / BootsBolt of Netherweave
350-360Specialized cloth + bagsSpellcloth / Shadowcloth / Mooncloth
360-375Imbued Netherweave Pants / TunicImbued Netherweave

Leveling Path 1-300 (Classic Foundation)

1-75: Linen Tier

Open with Brown Linen Pants and Brown Linen Vests — both are dirt-cheap and stay orange for a long time. Around 70 switch to a few Reinforced Linen Capes to bridge into wool.

75-160: Wool and Silk

Train Journeyman Tailoring, then grind Woolen Capes and Boots. From 105 the Gray Woolen Shirt (needs Gray Dye) is the most economical filler. Move to Azure Silk Hoods at 160 with Silk Cloth and Blue Dye.

160-205: Mageweave Begins

Train Expert Tailoring at 175, craft a couple of Formal White Shirts if needed, then settle into Crimson Silk Vests using Mageweave Cloth and Red Dye.

205-250: Black Mageweave

The Black Mageweave line (Leggings, Gloves, then Robe) carries you to 250 and unlocks Artisan Tailoring. Many of these disenchant into useful essences if you have an enchanter alt.

250-300: Runecloth

Process Runecloth into Bolts of Runecloth from 250, then craft Runecloth Belts and Gloves (260-280) followed by Headbands and Pants to hit 300. Reaching 300 unlocks Master Tailoring and Outland recipes.

Leveling Path 300-375 (The Burning Crusade)

300-325: Bolt of Netherweave

The single most important early TBC step is converting Netherweave Cloth into Bolts of Netherweave. It turns green at 325 but stays the cheapest option — stockpile roughly 400-500 bolts for the whole TBC stretch.

325-350: Netherweave Gear

Craft Netherweave Pants (325-340) then Netherweave Boots (340-350). Both disenchant into Arcane Dust and Lesser Planar Essence, so an enchanter partner recovers a chunk of your cost.

350: Pick Your Specialization

At 350 you commit to one of three specializations via a short quest in Shattrath City. Each lets you craft two pieces of cooldown cloth instead of one, roughly doubling that income.

  • Spellfire Tailoring — crafts Spellcloth at the Altar of Shadows in Shadowmoon Valley. Best for Fire Mages and Destruction Warlocks.
  • Shadoweave Tailoring — crafts Shadowcloth, also at the Altar of Shadows. Ideal for Shadow Priests and Affliction Warlocks.
  • Mooncloth Tailoring — crafts Primal Mooncloth at any Moonwell. The pick for Holy Priests and healers, and home to the 20-slot bag.

350-375: Specialized Cloth and Imbued Netherweave

Craft your specialized cloth whenever the cooldown is up, then finish on Imbued Netherweave Pants (360-370) and an Imbued Netherweave Tunic or Bag for the final points to 375.

Trainer Locations

  • Alliance: Georgio Bolero (Stormwind, Mage Quarter), Jormund Stonebrow (Ironforge), Me'lynn (Darnassus), Refik (Exodar)
  • Horde: Magar (Orgrimmar, the Drag), Josef Gregorian (Undercity), Makasgar (Thunder Bluff), Keelen Sheets (Silvermoon)
  • Outland / Master: Dalinna (Scryers) or Hama (Aldor) in Shattrath City handle Master Tailoring and the specialization quests

Exclusive Tailor Benefits

Spellthread Leg Enchants

Tailors craft tradeable leg enchants that anyone can apply:

  • Mystic Spellthread: +25 Spell Damage, +15 Stamina
  • Silver Spellthread: +25 Healing, +15 Stamina
  • Runic Spellthread: +35 Spell Damage, +20 Stamina
  • Golden Spellthread: +35 Healing, +20 Stamina

The Best Bags in the Game

  • Netherweave Bag: 16 slots, the standard alt bag
  • Imbued Netherweave Bag: 18 slots, premium storage
  • Primal Mooncloth Bag: 20 slots, the largest bag in TBC (Mooncloth spec only)

Money-Making Strategies

  • Sell cooldown cloth: Spellcloth, Shadowcloth, and Primal Mooncloth stay in demand all expansion. Never miss a daily cooldown.
  • Stock bags: New alts always need Netherweave Bags — keep a few on the auction house at all times.
  • Time spellthread sales: Runic and Golden Spellthreads spike in price on each raid tier release.
  • Disenchant leftovers: Netherweave gear from leveling becomes Arcane Dust and essences with an enchanter alt.

Tips for Efficient Leveling

  • Buy cloth on weekends when auction prices typically dip.
  • Farm while questing — humanoids across Hellfire Peninsula and Zangarmarsh shed Netherweave constantly.
  • Plan your spec early so you are not panic-deciding at 350.
  • Keep your bolts; making them in bulk before crafting saves bag space and trips to town.

FAQ

How much does it cost to level Tailoring 1-375 in TBC Classic?

If you farm your own cloth it is nearly free apart from thread and dye. Buying everything from the auction house typically runs a few hundred gold, with Netherweave being the largest expense.

Which Tailoring specialization is best?

It depends on your class: Spellfire for fire/arcane DPS, Shadoweave for shadow DPS, and Mooncloth for healers and the 20-slot bag. You can switch later for a fee, so it is not permanent.

Do I need to level past 300 before going to Outland?

No. You can start the Netherweave route the moment you reach 300 and train Master Tailoring in Shattrath, even at a low character level if a friend ports or summons you.

Can I level Tailoring without an Enchanter?

Yes. An enchanter alt only helps you recoup costs by disenchanting leftover gear — it is optional, not required to reach 375.