If you’re staring at a bank full of Embersilk and wondering why your skill bar hasn't budged in an hour, you're not alone. Honestly, tailoring in Cataclysm is a different beast than the Wrath days. You can't just spam "Bolt of Whatever" and expect to hit the cap without going broke.
Most players treat this profession like a chore, but if you're smart, it’s actually the backbone of a high-end raiding setup. You've got the Lightweave Embroidery procs, the dream of crafting your own Dreamcloth, and the literal "cloth scavenger" passive that makes you a walking gold mine.
But there's a trick to it. You have to know when to craft for skill points and when to craft for the Auction House.
Why Tailoring Still Matters in Cataclysm
In the original 4.0.1 patch, Blizzard killed off the old specializations. No more picking between Shadoweave or Mooncloth. Now, everyone can make everything. This is a massive win because it means you aren't locked out of specific BiS (Best-in-Slot) gear just because you chose the "wrong" elemental path.
The big draw is character power. If you’re a caster, Lightweave Embroidery is basically an extra trinket slot. It gives you a massive 580 Intellect proc for 15 seconds. For healers, there’s Darkglow Embroidery for Spirit, and for the physical DPS who still wear cloth for some reason (or just want the perks), Swordguard Embroidery offers a hefty Attack Power boost.
Then there's the money. Tailors are the only ones who can loot extra cloth from humanoids thanks to the Northrend Cloth Scavenging (which carries over) and the newer Cataclysm equivalent. You basically see 50% more drops than anyone else. In an expansion where Embersilk Bags are the standard, that's pure profit.
Leveling Through the Old World (1-300)
Don't overcomplicate this. You're going to need roughly 220 Linen Cloth and about 820 Silk Cloth just to get through the mid-game.
The Early Grind
Start by turning all that Linen Cloth into bolts. You’ll need about 100 bolts to get to level 45. From there, move into Linen Belts and Reinforced Linen Capes. It’s boring, but it’s cheap. Once you hit 75, jump straight into Wool Cloth.
The Silk and Mageweave Wall
Silk is where people usually get stuck. You need to craft Bolts of Silk Cloth until 145, then pivot to Azure Silk Hoods. Why hoods? Because they use Blue Dye, which you can buy from a vendor for silver, rather than hunting for rare drops.
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When you hit the 175-250 range, it's all about Mageweave and Runecloth.
- 175-185: Bolts of Mageweave.
- 185-205: Crimson Silk Vests.
- 250-260: Bolts of Runecloth.
- 260-280: Runecloth Belts.
The Push to Illustrious (300-525)
This is where the real WoW Cata tailoring guide begins. You’re leaving the old world behind and heading into Outland, Northrend, and eventually the shattered zones of Azeroth.
Outland and Northrend (300-425)
Between 300 and 350, you are living in Netherweave. It’s everywhere in Hellfire Peninsula. Just make bolts until 325, then swap to Netherweave Pants.
From 350 to 425, you need Frostweave. If you have an alt that can run old Wrath dungeons like Pit of Saron, go farm it there. You’ll need about 1,200 Frostweave Cloth in total. Make bolts until 375, then start crafting Frostwoven Belts and Boots.
The Embersilk Era (425-525)
Now we're in the Cataclysm content. You can start making Bolts of Embersilk Cloth at 425. Do not stop making these until they turn grey. You will need hundreds of them.
- 450-460: Deathsilk Boots.
- 460-470: Deathsilk Cowls.
- 475-480: Spiritmend Boots.
- 480-490: This is the "Gold Maker" window. Craft Embersilk Bags. They give skill points and they sell for a fortune.
- 500-525: This is the home stretch. You’ll be using Volatile Air, Fire, and Water to craft PvP gear like the Vicious Fireweave sets.
The Dreamcloth Secret
At level 500, you unlock Dreamcloth. This is the most important material in the profession. It has no cooldown if you use Chaos Orbs (which come from Heroic dungeons), but if you're a casual player, you can use the weekly cooldowns.
There are five different recipes to make Dreamcloth using different Volatiles (Life, Fire, Water, Earth, Air). Each one is on a separate week-long timer. Smart tailors use all five every week to stockpile cloth for the epic ilvl 359 gear like the Belt of the Merciless Killer or the Breeches of Mending.
Where to Farm Embersilk Cloth
If the Auction House prices are making you dizzy, you need to get out there and kill stuff. The best spot, hands down, is the Bastion of Twilight entrance. You don't even need to go inside the raid. The humanoids standing outside have a massive drop rate.
Another legendary spot is the Verlock Strand in Deepholm. The Troggs there respawn almost instantly. If you’re a Mage or a Balance Druid, you can round up ten at a time and AOE them down.
Expert Tip: Always, always use a Potion of Treasure Finding. It lasts an hour and allows you to loot Tiny Treasure Chests from Cataclysm mobs. These chests contain extra Embersilk, gold, and Volatiles. Without this potion, you're leaving half your profit on the ground.
Making the Profession Profitable
Tailoring isn't just about making your own gear. You need to watch the Spellthread market. Powerful Enchanted Spellthread (Intellect/Stamina) and Powerful Ghostly Spellthread (Intellect/Spirit) are required for every single caster in your raid.
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Since these require Dreamcloth, the supply is usually low. If you can time your crafts for Tuesday (raid reset day), you'll catch the desperate raiders who just got a gear upgrade and need a new leg enchant immediately. They will pay a premium.
Your Path to 525
Start by cleaning out your bank and checking the price of Embersilk Cloth on your realm. If it's under 2 gold per piece, buy it all. If it's higher, grab your Potion of Treasure Finding and head to Deepholm.
Focus on getting to 500 as fast as possible so you can start your Dreamcloth cooldowns. Every week you miss is a week of lost profit. Once you hit 525, your first priority should be your cloak embroidery—it’s the biggest power jump you'll get from any profession in the game.
Get your thread ready. The cloth isn't going to weave itself.