How to approach a jigsaw puzzle, make it a fun endeavor and become a dissectologist.
Jigsaw puzzles are a fun and challenging activity for people of all ages. If you’ve never done a jigsaw puzzle before, or if you’re looking for some tips on how to improve your puzzle-solving skills, this may be for you! Here are a few simple tips on how to solve a jigsaw puzzle:
- Choose the right puzzle. Jigsaw puzzles come in many shapes and sizes. Some are small, some are large, and some even have extra pieces that you can use to make a jigsaw puzzle out of a large piece of artwork. Choose one that fits your skill level and interest.
- Prepare the workspace. You’ll want to set up the puzzle on a table or other flat surface. You might also want to find a comfortable place to sit.
- Organize the pieces. Find the edge pieces. The edge pieces are the outermost pieces of the puzzle and have one perfectly straight edge. They can be found along the edges and corners of the finished puzzle. Next, separate large sections of pieces into small piles by color.
- Work from the outside in. Look for edge pieces first. Next, look for the four corner pieces. The corners are four-sided pieces that form a 90-degree angle along two sides. Assemble the corners and edges to make a frame for the rest of the puzzle.
- Don’t force it. Don’t force pieces into place. If a piece doesn’t fit, that means it is in the wrong place.
Conclusion: There is a certain satisfaction derived from completing a puzzle. Take a moment to reflect. Did you feel elated when you snapped that last puzzle piece into place? Are you proud of what you have accomplished? Are there any other puzzles that you would like to do? If you really enjoy doing/working/solving jigsaw puzzles you may call yourself a “dissectologist” – a person who enjoys jigsaw puzzles.
More: The Joy of Jigsaw Puzzles
I’ll have to tell my grandchildren they should start by finding the edge pieces – they always seem to want to find the subjects in the puzzle that interest them!
That is a valid alternative – especially if the subject has distinctive colors. But I (we) always start with the edges.
I’m another edges-first puzzler. After I get the edges, then I’ll focus on something distinctive in the puzzle, and often put the “edges” of that distinctive item together before filling it in.
Exactly!
I’ve never been good at this. Appreciate the tips. I need them!
I hope you are now motivated to break open a new puzzle and get to solving…