Y~Seams

Here's a quick tutorial for making y~seams.

I've paper pieced the blue and white units, ready to add the white square using the y~seam method.

Mark a 1/4" seam line on the wrong side of the  white square.

 Lay the marked square, right sides together on the left blue and white unit.  Line up the edges and place a setting pin through the marked intersection (X) matching it with the seam of the blue and white unit underneath.

 Starting from the outer edge, stitch along the drawn line and stop with a small back stitch where the drawn lines intersect.

 press up

 Take the second blue and white unit and place right sides together over the white square 

 Turn the unit over and place a setting pin in the drawn intersection on the white square, matching the blue and white seam underneath. 

 Begin stitching the seam where the previous stitching line stopped.  Make sure the seams underneath are laying flat, take a tiny back stitch and stitch all the way to end of the fabric 

 Fold the stitched unit right sides together like this and pin to keep the blue fabrics lined up and together.

 Start stitching exactly where the last stitched line stopped, taking a small back stitch and sew the blue fabrics pieces together.

 Open up the seams and press.

Viola!

#43 Garden Path

Here's an easier way to piece this block.

Start by making a center 4-patch surrounded by 4 loose triangles as shown in book. (My block is made with a solid center square, not a 4-patch)

This center unit is referred to as a 'Square in a Square'

On each template #44 and each of the large triangles, mark an X a quarter inch in from both edges on the wrong side of the fabric. This identifies the seam allowance when sewing the units together with a Y~Seam.  Set this aside for now.

Next, make 8 half square triangles. (hst)

Using the hst's, create 'Unit One' shown below.

Repeat for a total of 4. 

With the remaining 4 hst's, make 'Unit Two' shown below. Repeat 4 times.

Line up Units One and Two together as shown below and sew them together. 
Repeat for a total of 4.

After sewing Units One and Two together, add in the brown template #44.  Finger press to determine the center of the pieced unit and the template.  Pin and sew together.  
Repeat for a total of 4

Using the y~seam method, line up an X on one side of the template with the X on the triangle. Begin sewing the units together at the X stopping at the opposite X.  You may want to take a small back stitch when you start and stop at the X's.  Do this with all 4 sides of the center 'Square in a Square'.  

Complete the block by sewing up the open corner seams.  

For more detail on how to sew together y~seams, view this great tutorial on Craftsy...click HERE