The OP apparently started his two characters as mages. Now he wants to switch them to melee.
But he is not respeccing, he is just adding attribute points to strength in the hopes to use some melee weapons. Unfortunately, all the weapons he can craft are high level with high strength requirements.
The OP is level 16, but is not willing to spend 2-3k gold to buy some of the junk swords he sold to vendors a long time ago. Instead, he objects to the game mechanic that will not allow him to craft a lower level item (because once upon a time, his character could because his character was low level).
To the OP: You're right. It's weird you forget how to craft lower level items. But suck it up and pay the gold to buy a few old items from vendors.
