CALM SEAS, 84" x 96", 2018

Don't be surprised if Michelle Renee Hiatt is juggling many hats when you see her! A lifetime of management skills combined with a love for quilting, pattern designing, and teaching has prepared her perfectly for the position of American Quilter’s Society Executive Show Director.

A quilter is born

As soon as she could reach the sewing machine pedals, Michelle learned to sew from her grandmother, Oma, who lived with her family in New Jersey. After graduating from high school, Michelle received an academic scholarship to Rutgers University. To supplement her income while attending college, she made drapery in her shared apartment, taking on side work from Oma, who was a professional drapery maker and had taught her the trade over the years.

Oma guided Michelle some more with good advice in the midst of a job change to one requiring many relocations. “Find a quilt shop and learn how to quilt,” Oma said. From that point on, Michelle made it a point to find a quilt shop in every new work location, and she started collecting fat quarter packs from all over the world. She found that quilting gave her peace and new quilting buddies everywhere.

Eventually, during a relocation to Philadelphia, Michele created a Friday Night (FuN) Quilt Club when she couldn’t find a quilting group to join. An adventure that started in one small conference room with eight friends became 30 friends meeting together once a month in a ballroom at a local hotel. Those friends urged Michelle to take up teaching.

Processes = Patterns

And so, Michelle’s quilting career began. In 2008, she met Deb Tucker. Deb’s first tool excited Michelle’s inner “process expert,” and within the next year alone, Michelle taught Deb’s Hunter Star class 20 times.

About 15 years ago, Michelle started designing her own quilts and self-publishing patterns using Deb Tucker’s Studio 180 design tools. Michelle created her first technique building series called Tucker Tool Time which included the use of Deb’s tools for many applications—and how to “Tuckerize” a pattern. Michelle started designing One Technique quilts focusing on a single technique or tool to help quilters accomplish mastery of the technique.

It’s no surprise that Michelle became certified as a teacher for Studio 180 design tools, after which Deb asked her to develop a line of mixing modern and traditional patterns—all while she was still working a corporate job and moving to Connecticut. Eighteen months later, the Modern 180 patterns were launched with Michelle as the initial designer.

As Michelle’s quilting technique, teaching, and pattern writing expertise expanded, her corporate position became history. She has self-published over 50 new patterns in the last decade under her Sew On the Go line, and has taught in multiple locations across the United States, including AQS shows. Still wanting to teach during the COVID pandemic, Michelle taught online classes, producing twice-a-year mystery quilts, technique building classes, and projects as Sew On the Go.

AMUSEMENT, 75" x 98", 2015

JENN'S JOURNEY, 68" x 68", 2017

MOONLIGHT GARDEN, 69" x 69", 2019

In July of 2023, Michelle accepted the role of executive show director at AQS. Her responsibilities include directing and managing AQS QuiltWeek events, overseeing all aspects of AQS quilt contests, streamlining the vendor management process, and developing and executing educational programming.

“Stepping into this role as executive show director has been an absolute privilege,” Michelle says. “Every day, I’m inspired by the passion and creativity of our quilting community, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to their journey. I’m truly honored to be a part of the AQS family and look forward to all that we will accomplish together.”

The contest aspect is particularly close to Michelle’s heart. Over the years she’s learned from many quilters that they feel contests are intimidating. Under her leadership, AQS is embarking on a journey to make the contest process more welcoming and accessible through less intimidating challenges and special exhibits. One of Michelle's goals is to spark the “maybe I can” feeling among quilters so they will feel confident and excited to enter their quilts in quilt competitions.

LOCO FOR LEMOYNES - WINTER JEWELS, 72" x 72", 2014

As one who has experienced the powerful connections that are formed when quilters gather first hand, Michelle and the AQS team were inspired to create SEAM (Shared Experiences Amongst Members) Quilt Retreats and Cruises.

Although Michelle, her husband Stephen, and their dogs have now moved to Paducah, “As a longtime New Englander, I felt a strong desire to bring AQS QuiltWeek to my home region,” Michelle says. “New England has a vibrant and diverse quilting community, and I knew they would embrace the excellence of AQS QuiltWeek. After over a year of research and negotiations, I'm thrilled to announce that AQS QuiltWeek New England will launch in April 2026!”