HQing Griffon armor will most likely require a number of cross-class skills. 50 BSM for Ingenuity II is probably a MUST have. 50 GSM for Innovation and CRP for Byregot's as well depending on your rotation. Long story short, I don't believe you will be able to HQ Griffon stuff without multiple cross class skills.

As for leves, if you're not doing the triple turn in leves it's a waste in my opinion. Use the extra leves to get your other crafts to 50 so you can HQ 2 stars. If prices are low on your server due to undercutting, buy them up cheap to help you level.