Our Team
Erin Retelle
Owner, Custom Sewing, Bridal Specialist, Intermediate-Advanced Level Instructor
Erin, the owner of sewBoise, has been sewing more or less all her life. She began designing and sewing clothing for her dolls as a child, and then moved on to full-sized fashions after learning to use a sewing machine. She’s been her friends’ go-to gal for custom costumes and outfits, alterations, and mending since her high school and college days.
After moving to Boise for a job in 2004, she picked up more advanced design and construction techniques from local instructors and mentors. She branched into pattern drafting, couture sewing techniques, corset-building, bridal work, and tailoring.
Over the next several years, Erin had fallen into helping design and build costumes for the ballroom dance community she is a part of. She worked mainly for the joy of seeing her creations on the dance floor, as well as a few dinners and bottles of wine. It only took the 2008 economic crisis and Erin’s layoff from her job as a geologist for her to turn sewing into a livelihood instead of a pastime, and to launch sewBoise.
Erin has been a member of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals since 2010. She travels annually to the organization’s educational conference where she continues to expand her sewing and design skill set, improve her teaching techniques, and share her work. She regularly competes in the annual Threads Challenge, a themed competition for ASDP’s members hosted by Threads Magazine. In 2019, Erin’s dress was chosen as a finalist and won the award for ‘best color and shape shift’ in the ‘Transformation Challenge’.
Erin comes from a family of educators, and is no exception, many have described her as an exceptional teacher. She thoroughly enjoys teaching, learning and sharing sewing tricks with others.
Being an engaged business owner and asset to her community is central to Erin’s plans. She graduated from Boise State University’s Executive MBA program in 2018, and was one of the Idaho Business Review’s honorees for the Accomplished Under 40 Award in 2016 (see page 31).
Erin teaches intermediate through advanced students, including teens and pre-teens. Although she only speaks English herself, she is comfortable teaching those whose primary language it isn’t. Erin is sewBoise’s resident knit and serger expert. She works extensively with the Moulage as well as with commercial patterns, and is always up for a rework of a pattern or existing garment.
Farzana Bikzad
Sewist
Farzana was a highly-skilled sewing professional in her home country of Afghanistan. She and her husband relocated to the US as refugees and Farzana joined the sewBoise team in 2022. She welcomed a baby to her family in 2023 and after some time at home, rejoined us in the fall of 2024.
Lydia Winegar
Shop Assistant and Alterations Apprentice
Hi, it’s Lydia from sewBoise! I’m an avid creative, drawing and writing ever since I can remember. I attended Idaho Fine Arts Academy as a visual artist all four years of high school. There, I experimented with a variety of 2D and 3D media, pretty much anything I could get my hands on. Painting, baking, sculpting, sewing; you name it, and I’ve probably done it.
I always enjoyed designing characters and costumes the most, especially clothing inspired by the Medieval and Renaissance eras, with a healthy dose of fantasy. Whenever Halloween rolled around, I made armor with foam, sewing and altering existing garments to bring my designs to life.
Experimenting with a sewing machine naturally led to a love of fashion and an appreciation for the time and effort it takes to sew a finished garment. I made my senior prom dress, inspired by a gown from the movie Ever After, and another medieval-inspired dress for my graduation party. Since then, I’ve been learning new techniques, altering, and sewing everyday clothing for myself. I was ecstatic for the opportunity to work alongside Erin, and I’m looking forward to the future!
Lydia has been adding to sewBoise’s success since 2025.
Sarah Wilson
Summer 2025 Intern
My name is Sarah Wilson and I come from the small town of Iona, ID. When I say small town, I mean a small town. With only a population of around 3,000 people and on the edge of Idaho Falls, more often than not we get grouped in together. But that’s not the point of this. Being from a small town and a small family, (consisting of my parents, my older brother, my younger sister and me) has made me appreciate the more little things in life. I have always been a creative person. Ever since I was little I was always doodling dress designs on the back of papers, dreaming up creative stories and eventually I even began learning the piano. I loved to cook, write, sing, draw, and do anything that allowed me to create. One of my favorite memories is watching shows like Say Yes to the Dress and Project Runway with my grandma, which I believe is where I got my love for fashion design from. We used to always watch Olympic figure skating in order to see the outfits. One of my biggest achievements to date is being able to get into BYU-I and getting into the Apparel program. I look forward to all the many things I’ll get to learn and do while studying my passion!
Christian Richtsmeier
Shop Assistant
Hello! My name is Christian. I love all things creative, and am happy to be around such talented sewists in a colorful environment at sewBoise. I grew up in Boise, but I’ll admit my heart lives in the Pacific Northwest! I got engaged in Seaside, OR and married on a ferry in Seattle. My husband and I have three pets that we love dearly.
I graduated from BSU in May 2025 with a BFA in Photography which is my main medium, and I am also a ceramics artist. I photograph concerts, weddings, and do projects on film.
Christian has been adding to sewBoise’s success since 2025.
