Y-seam construction is used when 3 seams meet in 1 place in the quilt block, forming a “Y”. The example below includes 2 diamond shapes and a triangle which is sewn to each diamond.
1. Mark small dots at the seam line corners on all 3 pieces to be joined.
Mark dots.
2. Pin and stitch the first seam, stopping your stitches just before entering the dot, and then backstitching. Stitch up to the dot, as close to it as possible. (Make your stitch length smaller, if necessary.) Open the pieces. Finger press the seam allowance away from the seam of the next piece to be added.
Pin and stitch.
3. To join the third piece, line up the corner dots and stitch as before, backstitching before entering the dot. Do not stitch into the previous seam allowance. Open the pieces.
Pin and stitch.
4. Stitch the remaining seam, ending just short of the dot at the “Y”. Open and press.
This method is described in Mastering Precision Piecing, by Sally Collins.
- From the Tech Editors
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7 Comments
I loved your tip. In my last quilt I rotated the fabric on all the y-seams. This looks a lot easier and cleaner.
cathy
My question is, how do you decide where to place your dots? I think this might be part of my. Are you measuring 1/4″ in from the tip and then centering it? I’m dying to master this!
To place the dots at the corners for Y-seam construction, mark the 1/4″ seam lines on all sides of all pieces to be joined. The dot is placed at the intersection of adjacent seam lines. Align the dots on the pieces to be joined and stitch as directed.
This was very helpful. My Y-seams always looked like garbage. I’ll have to remember that all three pieces should meet at the edge of the seam allowance.
Great tips and diagrams. I looked in all my quilt books and couldn’t find directions on the y-seams. Now I have to pull out some stitching and start again, but at least I will know how to do it. Thanks!!
I was unable to print out the complete instruction of your web site
Please advise since I am interesting in trying this out
Hi Evelyn
I’d love to help so I am sending you an email.
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[...] C&T Publishing blog has a great tutorial to guide you through Y-seam construction – a piecing technique used when three seams meet in a quilt block. Excellent illustrations make it a snap to follow the directions. See the tute. [...]
[...] bit I realized that I was using the wrong term – I didn’t use a lot of Y seams (you can see what those are here), I used a lot of partial seams. Meaning that I had to inset pieced portions into other pieced [...]