What a beautiful quilt! Sturgis! I live in AZ now but grew upon Rapid City. Thanks for the tutorial!

Thank you for your clear demonstration. I think that too many people avoid Y seams. I think with good reason, as they take practice. However, although there are shortcut rulers/methods, nothing is prettier than a block with FEWER seams and perfect Y seams. Mastering this technique elevates one's quilting skills. I am sorry to say that it took me many, many, many blocks (curse words and tears) before I perfected my technique for LeMoyne Stars. There are different methods and steps that various folks demonstrate, and I finally found one that gave me consistent results. And I love your quilt, and I enjoy making those compound stars. But that investment means that I have no worries that my block will finish correctly every time (right size, lays flat!). Not to take anything away from your great demonstration, I would like to share a few tips/tools that helped me. 1. Marti Michell Deluxe Corner Trimmer. This tool will allow one to do two things: (a) mark a perfect 1/4" dot for ANY angle quickly; (b) trim the inside corner of the square and the triangle so that it nests perfectly on a diamond shoulder. You can also use your 1/4" piecing foot for a guide on where to stop if you are more confident. (if you upsize your insets, you need to work from the inside corners to the outside). 2. Shar Jorgenson in her Dutch Rose Carpenter Wheel video demonstrates (and it is the only one that I've seen) a way that some may find easier for the Y join. I use this method. It involves simply sewing off the inside v. stopping and starting at a dot. The trick is when the second seam pass is done, one pulls the other bits out of the way. A pair of eagle beak tweezers work well here. You will get a perfect, non-puckering/gapping corner every time. You end up with a perfect X seam--and the "X" intersect is exactly where the 1/4" dot is. This method is accurate and saves times, and you literally do not have to do any marking on your insets--and what you are insetting into should already have the 1/4" free space. 3. Random points to ensure that the block finishes correctly: (a) With many -eamed blocks, using an 80wt cottonized polyester thread creates less thread build up. I use Decobob; (b) using a teflon coated fiberglass pressing mat (craft sheets or Goddess sheets) create perfect pressing as the iron glides and there is no bias distortion--and that ensures that elements are flat, straight and true before any insets are done. Many instructers say don't press until the block is completed, but I have never had good luck with not pressing; (c) sew with a scant 1/4" interior elements); (d) sew a full 1/4" for square and triangle insets where a 1/4" point needs to be preserved; and (e) as you demonstrate, UPSIZING goes a long way. For a LeMoyne star, do not upsize the diamonds, upsize the triangles and squares (1/4-1/2") to ensure a perfect trim down.

Great explanation! Thanks for sharing!

Great video Terri! Thanks.

Thanks Terri! You make Y-seams so easy. Lovely quilt behind you.

Terry so glad to see another video, Thank you so much for showing us the Y seam

Great tutorial - thank you. I have to ask though - where did you find that rotary cutter? My arthritic hand would love that.

How can I take a picture or some pictures and make a quilt out of them how do I get it from the picture to the material