Youngsters interested in learning how to sew will have the opportunity from a professional tailor and designer.

Local 4-H volunteer and sewing expert Coco Parks learned to sew from her grandmother, a 4-H sewing leader in the 1960s, and is carrying on the family tradition. Parks owns her own sewing and alteration business, Coco Sews.

The new 4-H Sewing Club is geared for youths 12 years old and older, and is limited to six participants in each group. Club meetings will be held after school until 5 p.m. on Mondays for 12- to 14-year-olds, and on Wednesday for 15- to 18-year-olds. Students from Leland and St. Mary School can ride the school bus to Park’s home on M-204, west of Lake Leelanau.

Besides gaining sewing skills, members will learn design principles like color matching, what fabrics and styles go together, and what looks good on individual body types and skin tones.

Participants will also have fun learning how to inexpensively update their wardrobe by re-styling existing clothes.

The cost to join the club is $10 for a sewing kit, plus the cost for the pattern and fabric need for the garment the member chooses to make, and the $10 annual 4-H participation fee. Sponsorships are available.

The club will begin meeting the week of Feb. 4. Those interested should contact Coco at 994-2020, or the MSU Extension/4-H office at 256-9888.