Help paper piecing Y seams and curves
 

I generally like paper piecing, but not tonight. Found the most beautiful paper pieced butterfly an old vintage pattern on the internet. It has curves for the wings, they didn't come out to bad, but those Y seams are a killer. Actually the curved wings could of been better too. I am giving it a rest, for now. Hints would be welcome. I may try an redo the pattern a bit and get rid of the y seams. Determination is my strength, but experience has also shown me it can be my weakness. Sometimes I don't know when to throw in the towel.

Try to simplify the pattern or do what I do sometimes.....add the one block to my orphan block box.:)

Without seeing the pattern it is kind of hard to help. But what I have done before is sew to the point where the "Y" meets and then pick up the top paper and fabric and pivot it to make the rest of the Y. I don't know if that makes any sense or not but I hope it helps you.

The key to y-seams is to make sure you are stopping exactly 1/4" from the end. I usually have to mark it. Without seeing a picture of the butterfly, I don't have any hit for the curved edge - other than to make stitches smaller and pin ALOT! Also sew w/ the "bigger" piece on top.

Look to see if you can sew it together without y seams. I do this all the time.

It is hard to paper piece curves because of the extra fabric that comes from the curve. I've seen someone do it on a tv program but she put pleats in the curved fabric piece. Can you show a picture???

In the paper piecing I've done the pattern is split into sections, none of which have a Y seam. Each section is individually paper pieced, and then the sections are put together. Is this where your Y seam is appearing? A picture would help a lot.

when I do "Y" seams I sew from the intersection out to the edge on each side, mark the 1/4" spot at the intersection of each fabric piece, back stitch at the beginning. You have to flip and fold the material just like doing a mitered corner. If you do a search I am sure you will find some tutorials.
peace