As watterstide said, it appears your're trying to do your spools the same way that Quilterscache has the block drawn out...no wonder you're having trouble...Mitered corners and Y seams, while not impossible, are usually attempted after a person has become familiar with doing simpler techniques...or maybe using paper piecing technique as another poster suggested. If you use the concept of the 9 patch to make your block (video on watterstide post) you'll find it goes together much more easily. Don't get discouraged, we all have had event's like yours but not all of us are able to ask for help like you have.