You may have noticed that wool cloth sells for quite high amounts of gold per stack, especially on the Horde side. Prices of 10 gold or more for a stack are not uncommon, and can even go for 20+ gold for a stack. It is usually cheaper on the Alliance side, though. But even if you only get 3-5 g per stack on the Alliance side, it’s worth farming.
Considering you can farm wool cloth as early as level ~18, and earn experience while doing it, it beats almost anything else at early levels. I also like farming items like wool because it requires no professions. (Though wool can be skinned from sheep. Bet you didn’t know.)
Wool cloth is used to skill up tailoring and first aid, and has some minor uses in blacksmithing and engineering. Since most players will skill up their first aid, they will use the wool cloth they collect for that purpose. So it doesn’t go on the auction house.
It is also used in the “cloth donation” quests — for example A Donation of Wool (Alliance) and A Donation of Wool (Horde) — which grant XP and reputation. Anyone who wants to do all the wool cloth turn-ins will need 15 stacks.
Furthermore, wool cloth only drops from mobs around level 15-26, and not many players stay and farm long enough at those levels to create any major supply of this cloth.
Alliance-Horde differences
It seems that there are more mobs in Alliance zones that drop wool cloth, than in Horde zones. But the main reason it’s cheaper on Alliance side is probably The Stockade. Located in the center of Stormwind City, a lot of groups will run this dungeon, get boosted in it, and some high level players will go there and farm it for wool cloth.
Horde has no comparable opportunity, which makes it harder to farm on the Horde side. Therefore, the prices are usually much higher as well.
So where do you go to farm wool cloth?
I’ve tried this and I believe these are the best farming spots.
Darkshore – Horde & Alliance
Mobs to kill: Twilight Disciples etc.
This is probably the best low-level farming spot for wool cloth. Both Horde and Alliance can come here at level 17-18 and kill the mobs. There aren’t many but they respawn quickly.
In patch 3.2 (WotLK) normal mounts are buyable at level 20, and this is also a great spot to earn gold for that mount. You need 5 gold total for the skill and mount, and you should get that easily here before level 20.
Horde have to run there from the Barrens through Ashenvale. See map below. Alliance can take the boat to Auberdine from Stormwind or Azuremyst Isle (outside Exodar) or Teldrassil.
Path from Barrens to Darkshore via Ashenvale. FP = Flight Point (i.e. flight master).
Ashenvale – Alliance Only
This is my favorite farming spot for wool cloth.
Mobs to kill: Forsaken Herbalists etc.
You can kill all forsaken mobs in the area. Pay special attention to the herbalists who have a fair chance to drop low level herbs, which are quite valuable and can be sold on the auction house.
Wool cloth farming spot in Ashenvale. Alliance only.
Ashenvale – Horde Only
Horde’s spot in Ashenvale isn’t quite as good, but decent nonetheless.
Mobs to kill: Laughing Sisters, Cenarion Protector
Wool cloth farming spot in Ashenvale. Horde only.
The Barrens – Horde Only
Mobs to kill: Bael’dun Excavator etc.
Mining nodes spawn in this area as well, which can be mined if you have the mining profession.
Wool cloth farming spot in The Barrens. Horde only.
Redridge Mountains
Mobs to kill: Blackrock Gladiator etc.
Kill the highest level blackrock mobs you can find in this spot. The level ~20 mobs do drop wool cloth, but not as much as the level 24-25 ones.
Wool cloth farming spot in Redridge Mountains.
The Stockade – Alliance Only
The Stockade is a dungeon has many mobs that drop wool cloth. However, you have to be higher level to run this solo.
Still, if you need wool cloth and don’t want to buy it, this is the fastest place to farm it on the Alliance side.
Auctioning
It is best to sell wool cloth on the auction house in stacks of 20. Watch prices for a while and see what the highest price point seems to be, and sell then.