Do you need to lvl up professions?

[Boocraft]

By this I mean.. in order to ever have materia in your gear do you need to have professions leveled up for each type of gear needed.

Reason I ask is because people have been making it sound like you do. But no one ever once mentioned it to me until now in-game that apparently it's easier if your in a raiding guild for sure but you can have like your buddies or random people from trade put in the materia into your gear for you. Even if it's soulbound raid gear?

[Lemuria]

No. You can request melds from existing crafters to do the melds for you. It's easier if you can do it yourself, but it's not necessary. Materia can be melded onto soulbound items this way as well, and without trading so it's done entirely safely.

You will, however, need the right tier catalyst for the meld. The crafter doesn't use her own supply when melding.