Anyone like to chat about jigsaws?

[thefinaltwist]

I've only very recently started a jigsaw and so far I'm really enjoying it! I'm sick fed up of aimlessly scrolling on my phone every evening until bedtime. I feel like I'm wasting so much time! I'm a reader but a few chapters at a time is my limit before my mind starts to wonder or I find myself skim reading, even when I'm really enjoying the book this happens. Also in the evenings I used to cross stitch and I had started to learn how to crochet ( very basic level ) and all of this has fallen to the side in favour at staring at a screen.

So this year I've decided to make more of an effort to get back into these hobbies and thats when I decided to try jigsaws.

I got my first jigsaw from the charity shop last week for £1.50 ( love a bargain ) its a garden bird scene with a watering can, various flowers and some insects ( 1000 piece ) not sure if that was a bit adventurous 😂I'm around halfway and I have to admit I'm thoroughly enjoying the challenge! It's very satisfying watching it come together slowly.

I've got another charity shop find lined up to do next its a 500 piece old fashioned greengrocers.

So if anyone would like to chat please feel free 🙂

Just finished this one - it was a challenge! I also have a felt mat and inflatable rolling tube so I can put my 1000 piece puzzles away. I revived some stackable sorting trays for Christmas which were really helping when doing the puzzle pictured. I find doing a puzzle so so relaxing!

I usually have one on the go though they take me weeks. Currently doing this one
WOMEN IN SCIENCE and have this one lined up Brughuel which I think is going to be tough.

Once they’re finished they get passed on to friends.

I have the portapuzzle board so it can be moved off the dining table.

Ooh I just got my first jigsaws in thirty years. I was given a beautiful pre raphaelite one and a Frida Kahloe self portrait together with a roll up mat. My husband got them because I’m always admiring my mum’s ones. She’s always got one on the go and when we visit I love chipping in.
She did this one recently which nearly broke her, it’s the only one she glued and kept as it was so troublesome. It does look really good in a black frame despite my misgivings.

I bought one of these to do puzzles on - slid it under the sofa if we needed the table over Christmas https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ravensburger-Puzzle-Accessories-Handy-Storage/dp/B01EAE298C/ref=ascdff_B01EAE298C/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310816650461&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4980530026633001342&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006693&hvtargid=pla-562717841166&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Love the Ravensburger Colin Thompson puzzles - so much to find in them; they're really absorbing and make a pleasant change from scrolling through TV trying to find something to watch.

Yes it is amazing what you find when you walk away and come back! I was stuck on one part, made a cup of tea and can back and managed to find 6 pieces right in front of me - very satisfying! 😅

Ooh one of my children got a similar one and wants to register but I am desperate to crack it open myself. I got a 1000 piece cat puzzle for Christmas and I can't wait. I mainly do 1000 pieces but have a few 1500 although struggle to find interesting ones at that size. Our market sells second hand puzzles but I usually check the charity shop too.

• regift not register

I rediscovered jigsaws last year. I did a few 1000 puzzles (with a little help from my young DC), though I did most of them in the evenings once they were in bed.

I do them on the Portapuzzle deluxe case. It has 4 mats included so that pieces can be spread out on them while doing the puzzle (I organise according to colour etc), then quickly placed neatly on top of the puzzle in the case when I’m not. We don’t have much room so I slide the case under the sofa when I’m not doing it.

I would never do the same jigsaw again but I want to keep them so I seal them with clear sticky backed plastic to keep them intact, then store them on top of each other (under the puzzle case).

I’ve actually had Ravensburger puzzles made from my own photos (one of the photo sites does this).

I also cross stitch daily and do other crafts. I’ve been guilty of also spending too much time scrolling so I’m trying to limit this to set times as I get far more satisfaction from my hobbies!

TheOrigRights, I agree - so much talk of mindfulness and I think doing a jigsaw or something like crochet is a good way of letting your mind wander. Although I also like a jigsaw session with cups of tea and R4.

All our jigsaws come from charity shops and get taken back when they're finished. We live in an ex pit village and really nice 1000 piece jigsaws in the local charity shops are £2. In our local posh market town they're about double the price!

Dougieowner I take a photo of completed jigsaws too so I have a record of ones I've done.

I’m not really into jigsaws, but for a bit of a change bit of a change, I once bought a jigsaw of a tiger. I spent absolutely ages on it, but no matter how I tried, I just couldn’t seem to get the hang of it. None of the pieces would match up with the picture on the box.

Turns out, it was a box of Frosties.

I forgot to say I bought a lovely Christmas one for December but a 1000 piece cat one that my DC bought me took longer than I thought it would (multiple large areas with the same coloured fur etc!) and then things got hectic so I didn’t get it started in time. I’m looking forward to doing it but will probably put it aside for next Christmas now.

I love a jigsaw but am quite picky as well.
I like 1000 pieces with lots of little details like Mike Jupp or Colin Thompson.
I use a wooden board which I can slide under the sofa if we need the table. When I finish one I leave it to be admired for a few days and then break it up and put it away. Then I can do it again in a year or so.

I started doing them in lockdown as wanted something else other than tv or scrolling to do of an evening. Am hooked now. I have a portapuzzle case thing to store in progress ones. I like Ravensburger and also the ones from The Works are good value, typically prefer a 1000 piece. I prefer ones with a lot going on, also not keen on ones with huge swathes of sky or grass that's all one colour. I do repeat some but not many, usually will pass to a friend or the charity shop when done.

Ive started one I was givne for xmas. Its driving me insane. I haven't done one since I was a child and there are too many pieces for my brain to deal with.

Love a jigsaw. I finished my Christmas one last night. It took me longer than I'd hoped as the baby has been sleeping terribly and I just haven't had the energy to stay up and concentrate on tiny pieces! I have a jigsaw sorter as well - it's like a set of six flat boxes that stack and you can sort out similar pieces into and store nicely while you're working on it. Really helpful.

I leave them a couple of days, take a photo, then break them down. Pass them on (family/friends/charity). I've only ever kept one that I intended to frame as it was a gift & was one that came with the glue etc, so I felt I needed to. It's still not glued, I don't really want it in the wall. I think next time I'm in the lift I'll bring it down & it can go to the charity shop.

I just finished a Ravensburger Escape Room Puzzle which was a nice twist on your normal jigsaw. The jigsaw picture contained 8 puzzles to solve which didn't appear in the picture on the box which made it more of a challenge to put together.

I love a good jigsaw! My favourites are by an artist called colin Thomson. They are really detailed with funny details and coo stuff. www.colinthompson.com/page35.htm

Love doing jigsaws. Ive got a shaped kigsaw of the front of liberty store which is mostly black and white which took a while. I find Im better with 500 pieces as I only have short bursts of time to do them.

My favourite is Gailson and I have a large amount of their christmas puzzles. I also like Otter puzzles as well. I find Georges of Whitstable are a good online place to get them.

I also have a puzzle library in my village which is great, but they dont have many 500 piece puzzles.

@WandaWonder

i like to mix them back in, I live sorting the edges out 🤣

my mum once gave my SIL one & she'd done the same thing, my SIL threw a Megan sized strop & accused my Mum of sabotaging her enjoyment of it. Instead if you know, just being thankful if the free puzzle and mixing the edges back in. She's a twat of the highest order!

I quite like charity shop puzzles, I like the surprise element of 'will all the pieces be there?!

@Pawtucketbrew

I don't like the roll up ones either.

the hard jigsaw boards annoy me

so, a few years ago, I bought (from hobby craft) a very large 'art board' ?! It's basically two large sheets of thin board 'tape joined'?! With elastic over the other corners. It slides under the sofa.

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1000 pieces is my absolute limit, prefer 500 really but not as much choice in that size. Have a board that slides under the sofa and a set of sorting trays. Love Ravensburger, Gibsons, Falcon, especially the 'traditional' ones like Kevin Walsh. Galison also nice for more modern designs. Absolutely can't stand photographic images - has to be a painting!

I love jigsaws but only restarted in lockdown. Am doing this www.waterstones.com/product/adult-jigsaw-puzzle-van-gogh-starry-night/flame-tree-studio/9781786644893 - what was I thinking?! Probably about half way and keep thinking I'm close to the tipping point where it will get easier but it never does. And yet I'm too stubborn to quit having got this far (and with others help). So, when do you give in??

Love doing a jigsaw especially in the dark winter evenings . Instead of scrolling on my phone . Got 2 for Christmas so I have just started a new one.