Great! I'm glad you're thinking about giving this a shot. Working with leather can be rewarding, productive, and if you want, profitable. For about $10 and an hour of your time, you can make a set of restraints that someone would be happy to change you thirty or forty for.. you get the picture. Well, I've got a little advice before we get started.
If you're not sure about something, just ask. There are several mailing lists and online clubs dedicated to BDSM toymaking, and they are chock full of people who love to help others. Give as much detail as possible and ask specific questions... you'll get more answers than you want!
Worse comes to worse, you are welcome to email me with questions. It may take me a while to get back to you, though.
Practice everything you do on a piece of scrap leather. The more you practice, the better you'll get, and your work will show it. This means beveling, riveting, punching, skiving... everything. For example, when using a punch:
1: A single stroke should go all the way through the piece you are punching.
2: That stoke should NOT got all the way through the piece of scrap leather beneath it.
{Practice until you can punch that way 10 of 10 times.
The cardinal rule in this activity is similar to that of a carpenter:
Think twice, do once.
I know, it sounds obvious. Well, I still break it sometimes (and get mighty pissed off ;). Measure twice. Make sure the right side of everything is up before you rivet. Think before you do something that's costly to reverse and you'll be a lot happier.
It makes sense to do the projects in a logical order, namely the easy ones first. Also, I have included less detailed plans for more difficult items. Here is the plan. Do one or two from each group before moving on to the next:
Locking restraints (Wrist, Ankle, Thigh)
All Blindfolds (Screw, Goggles)
CBT Toys
Sit Sling
Buckling Restraints (Wrist, Ankle, Thigh)
Basic Floggers
Wrist Suspension Cuffs
The Strap
Arm Binder
Bondage Belt
Hanging Sling
Better Ankle Suspension Cuffs