do NOT craft anything that is sold by NPC shops. DO NOT.
but, you say, it is cheaper. nope, it really isn't.
brig gaiters would cost you 230k ish from giran NPC (depending on Giran tax rate, might be a little higher or lower).
if, instead, you decide to craft, you'll use up:
10 iron ore
10 braided hemp
10 coal
32 steel
60 d crystals
14 d gemstones
wander around in giran for a bit, look at the player shops, price these mats. on Erica, at least, you can sell 32 steel for 400k or so. add in the rest of the mats, you'll use up about 500k adena worth of mats to make a 230k piece of gear.
that does not even begin to take in the time it takes to gather 8 brig gaiters parts that NO one is farming.
the only gear at d grade you EVER want to try crafting is the armor set completers. and even there, good luck trying to find the parts.
'tis true. I enjoy crafting myself. one of the big reasons I'm pushing my warsmith along, slowly. however, having fun crafting or not, trying to craft d grade armor is a recipe for pain.
no, what I suggest, if you must craft d grade armor, is aim for half plate over brig. yes, half plate has no set bonus. however, the pdef is higher, the mats are a little more common, and you'll actually be able to sell the set for a decent amount when you are done with it. plus, brig is just down right fugly compared to half plate on most races (think dwarves. gawd, if I never see brig on another dwarf it'll be too soon). my warsmith did this at level 30, setting up buy shops for the key mats, and had it ready to go in about a week.
(and if anyone is on Erica, pm me, Cat still has the half plate recipes on her book)