The first items to make for manufacturing are fur clothes. The best 2 items to start with are fox scarves and warm fur gloves. After that, fur hats and fur cloaks.

You can actually make a full fur outfit with time, but you won't be able to do that until you get some skill.

When you get to be good enough for them, leather hats are a good way to raise your manu level. They sell at a loss to Trik. Warning: Leather helms may lead to temporary insanity if mixed in too high of quantity.

There is a fox scarf quest starting on IP too.