Young girls love fashion. They love Project Runway. They love expressing themselves through what they wear. And they want to be fashion designers. It’s the No. 1 dream job for girls ages 8 to 12, according to The New York Times. Here in one kit is everything a girl needs to know to start designing and sewing clothes—a lively, full-color book that comes with a doll-size dress form, 24 reusable patterns, rick rack, embroidery thread, a tape measure, and a piece of fabric printed in three vibrant patterns.The Fashion Designer’s Handbook and Fashion Kit features 33 projects that range from super easy dresses for 11 1⁄2-inch fashion dolls (including Barbie) all the way to “girl-size” projects for the designer to make and wear herself. It shows how to think and work like a designer—from finding inspiration to sketching to developing a personal style. Getting to know fabrics, fibers, and materials; working with patterns; and creating original designs using the dress form.

The Mod Mini 1-2-3 Skirt. The No-Sew Sock Dress. Little Red Cape and Coco Jacket. Every project is clearly explained in step-by-step instructions and requires little to no adult help.