Wasgij Puzzle Experte - how do you get going?

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

A friend kindly gifted me a jigsaw puzzle as I had mentioned that I had surprised myself by enjoying them during lockdown. Now I've looked more closely, it's a Wasgij puzzle, the picture on the puzzle is different to on the box, although it provides some clues.
So..... how do you get started ? I have no clue!! Any advice greatly received

Depends how you do ordinary puzzles to be fair.

As with any puzzle, I do the edges first. The main difference is having no point of reference as to the right way up, but it kind of works out soon enough.

I have one on the go the moment which I keep dipping into during my breaks wfh.

The fun, and draw back with wasgij puzzles is no point of reference on the box. But it depends how much you use it anyway as to how big an issue.

There is often a large character or feature right forward, with obviously patterned garments. Every element generally has a unique style so you don't have loads of similar looking people with similar patterned tops.

When you've done the edge, I tend to start gathering similar patterns together and you end up with with little clusters of picture elements, and before you know it's obvious where everyone fits in.

This is mine on the go at the moment. You can see how the floor pieces seem to fit and I've got 2 obvious patterns to start with.

Edges first then I pick out batches of colours and start to work out what things might be. Things in the foreground tend to have thicker lines than things in the background, which helps. I dunno why anyone would do a puzzle with a picture anymore - far too easy!!

These are my favourite. I have sooooooo many.

Edges first, Then any blocks/patterns that are large and connected to the edge, then gather any similar patterns into piles and work on them, then blocks of colour. Then see if I can start fitting it together.

Gradually work on items with less detail. Usually c9pkete in around 3 days. Best is 24 hours. Not solid working though!

These are our favourite too! I have occasionally looked up the solution when I have got completely stuck

These are my favourite jigsaws. I'm the same as others and start with the edge then move onto patterns.

Thank you all. I normally do edges first, but that is when I have a picture to refer to. Will see how it goes!

Love wasjig. Was tidying last week and realised we have an unopened one. We get one every xmas as our advent calendar. We try and complete it by Christmas eve..
As pp said, edges first then I try and group patterns and colours together. If there is any obvious pieces like shop signs or animals. Once you start to get an idea of the picture it's easier

I very rarely use the box or picture when doing normal puzzles, my family all think im strange. When i was younger i used to do my jigsaws upside down to add a challenge...!

Edges first, then blocks of colour (is there a bright red, or clear pattern that looks like one area) all come out of the box, and then carry on like that until the blocks of colour start to join up!

My brother got me a clear jigsaw puzzle for my birthday, thats going to be a challenge! (As in totally clear see through pieces, no way of knowing which way up ther are meant to be!!)

Thanks again. The picture on my jigsaw box is set a few decades ago, the actual jigsaw a modern version. Will the composition be the same or are the pictures usually completely different?

Compositon is roughly the same. So if theres a woman in a bright pink dress in the front left, therell be a woman in a pink dress in the same space. But the dress/woman might be a bit different. Etc etc.

For example i had one where the main thing in the picture was a horse and carriage, the completed jigsaw had a flashy sports car. So not exavtly the same but gives you an idea of what to expect.

Thank you @ScottishStottie that's really helpful