Gonna use this hint!:D

I find that my piecing improves when I SLOW down!

Just remember that starch draws silverfish. ASk me how I know!! Magic Sizing does not. I agree with the starch making piecing easier, but those creepy crawlies are icky!

Gyleen's "butterfly seams" method was life changing for me when it comes to Y seams. I was in the "avoid at all costs" camp until I tried her method. (The only way I could get them right before was by hand sewing the seams.) Now I can do perfectly matched Y seams on the sewing machine. Yay!!! :)

Thanks for the question, Valerie. I, too, avoid Y seams whenever possible. Some good tips here.....

I recently pieced a quilt with many small pieces and a gazillion points to match. I haven't learned how to paper piece. When I learn, I am sure I will wish I had learned sooner. Anyway, I pieced these pieces accurately by pencil marking each seam a scant 1/4" clear to the edge of the fabric so that there was a crossing point at each corner. The marking takes time, But saved frustration when the points matched as I assembled the quilt.

Am I the only one who likes Y seams? They do not phase me one bit. Must be the drafter in me.

I found that I do much better on the 1/4" seams since I bought a 1/4" foot for my machine. I had one with the fabric guide but that created oversized seam allowances. Now I take care to get the foot aligned properly and I get good seams every time.

When I run out of this particular thread, I am going to switch to 60 weight for the bobbin. Every little bit helps to decrease the seam bulk.

I also had to make friends with my rulers. The Olfa (black and yellow) take a bit more attention to get the cutting line aligned properly. It took me a while to train my eyes to look at the gaps between the yellow lines and make sure the skinny black line was spot-on.

When I cut multiples of a size, I cut my strips at a multiple of that measurement. Example: If I plan to cut 2 1/2" strips and I need 5, I cut the first cut at 12 1/2" then subcut at 10, 7 1/2, 5, and 2 1/2" That way I will not experience scope creep by adding just a little bit on every cut.

I am sure that I over starch and over press, but in the long run when I am happy with the results, its keeps me doing it again. Since learning the recipe for Best Press, it isn't all that expensive and I love the finish I can get with it. Sure makes bias edges easier to control

I also use microtex needles or sharps for quilting - I learned this by accident years ago when expressing to a quilt shop owner my trouble with matching points even when I nested thing together PERFECTLY! It made a huge difference...as did switching my piecing thread. I make a lot of "show" type quilts that will never be used and I generally use a thin poly for piecing now adays rather than the thicker cotton I used way back when I started. I have yet to try it, though some day soon I plan on ordering a few cones, but I hear wonderful things about Aurifil's 50 wt. cotton. Thanks for your tips!!

LOVE Kay Wood - truly! I will check out her section on Y seams. I actually don't mind them so much either until the pieces get very tiny and the fabric becomes very high contrast! Seems there is always room for improvement and folks are always coming up with better faster way to do things so I'm always listening, watching, and learning!

Thanks so much for all of the great advice! You folks are the BEST!

I too enjoy the "no tear" freezer paper piecing method. Worked my Picasso Sunset quilt (NY Beauty type blocks) using this method. Introduced it to my sister (new quilter) and she mastered it quickly.