Puzzling
That satisfying ‘click‘ when the pieces fit together perfectly. That frustration when you can’t find that one piece. That sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when you do.
I’m talking about jigsaw puzzles, what has become my preferred, go-to lockdown activity. I’m not alone – sales of puzzles have skyrocketed, as many have rediscovered this pastime during the COVID era.
It is a calming activity – a way of restoring some sort of order amid the chaos and uncertainty today. The Marie Kondo-like organization – sorting the pieces by colours, patterns and shapes. A test of patience and perseverance. Attention to detail at its finest.
It is like that matching game of Memory – you know you’ve seen that particular colour or pattern – just where does it go?
A few of my favourite brands include eeBoo and Galison – with their glossy finish and ribbon cut pattern (consisting of similar square shapes that line up in neat columns and rows, creating a uniform, grid-like pattern). This differs from a random cut pattern, in which each piece is irregularly shaped. The latter is much more difficult, I find, as the shapes can be a little more finicky, often not easily snapping together. The Cobble Hill brand is an example of this. If you are dealing with a puzzle manufacturer for the first time, first look at online reviews to determine the quality and degree of difficulty. Do some research and find out what type is preferable to you. Try out a few different types, as not all puzzles are created equal.
Some other tips for getting started:
Sort your pieces and assemble the border
I begin by flipping over each piece, and finding all of the edges. I then complete the border before filling in the rest of the puzzle, so I have a frame to work with. This also helps to determine the size of the puzzle. While this may seem tedious, it is an important step! There is nothing more frustrating than having the border completed but for one piece, and then having to look through the whole assortment of pieces again.
I then sort by colour and pattern, putting together all that are easily distinguishable, such as faces and groups of people, and printed signs and other text. I also like to sort the pieces by shape – while I don’t do this all the time, I find it is helpful when working with a solid colour, such as a blue sky.
2. Study the image
Take time to study the image and become familiar with its intricate details.
3. Get some accessories
Foam boards are useful to have on hand. Not do they give you space to organize pieces by colour and shape, they are also easy to move around, so you do not have to disassemble your masterpieces upon completion!
While it may seem overwhelming at first, with some organization and planning, the pieces just fall into place.
