re: Elder Scrolls Online is the shite

Research isn't account wide. It only counts for the one character you are doing it on. There is really no reason to have crafting on ever character. You really just need one.

You can only research one item at a time for each crafting type (blacksmith, cloth, wood). You can put points into the proper passives for each to increase that to three at a time. Even then, each trait you research on any individual piece takes longer than the first, progressively up until you do the ninth trait for each piece. With the passive skills maxed out, the ninth trait alone takes 27 days to research.

Researching takes a LONG time. Try to always have at least one per crafting type going at all times until you can spend the points in passives. Then try to have all three for each going at all times.