Erin 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, mending and alterations since her high school and college days. 

After moving to Boise in 2004, she picked up some more advanced design and construction techniques from local instructors, one of whom was Barbie McCormick, another career sewist and ASDP member.

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. When the economy crashed in 2008, and she was laid off from the engineering firm where she was working as geologist, Erin pivoted to an entirely new career in sewing. With Barbie’s help and mentorship and the encouragement of the dance community, Erin began teaching sewing classes, making dance costumes she was paid actual money for, and doing alterations. sewBoise was born!

Since that time, sewBoise has expanded twice and Erin now employs 9 people in her Boise shop.

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.

In 2010, Erin joined the Association of Design and Sewing Professionals and began participating in the organization's annual educational conference where she continues to expand her sewing and design skill set, improve her teaching techniques and share her work.

Being an engaged business owner and asset to her community is central to Erin's plans. She is pursuing the Executive MBA degree at Boise State University, graduating in spring of 2018, and was one of the Idaho Business Review's honorees for the Accomplished Under 40 Award in 2016 (see page 31).

Erin teaches beginning through intermediate-plus 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.

Read more about Erin in the press, schedule a private lesson with her, or send her an e-mail.