Am I missing something with crafting?

I remember at head start people could start getting moonwater transformation stones by like day 3 and yet I cannot imagine how to get my crafting profession for merry potters to level 3 within a week. I barely get any xp from making the simple bowls and simple refiners to farm xp but other stuff that takes 40 mins and gives more xp is soooo expensive in the long run comparatively. Am I leveling these professions incorrectly? Or is there a faster way to do it?