Your not a newbie, many quilters have shyed away from hard blocks, I have been quilting about 14 years and have not done a y seam. My new policy to get over my fear though is to try one new technique a year that I am interested in but scared to try, two if I have time among my UFO's. It never hurts to try, and if you don't like it donate it or give it to someone here who does. If you don't try you will never know if your any good at it or if you will really love that area of quilting.