To assume nice, normal reasonable people look at the box when doing a jigsaw puzzle?

[SkippyDies]

Following a post on FB yesterday when I revealed my new and most excellent jigsaw puzzle assembly command station, a friend, possibly an ex-friend now commented with surprise and alarm about the presence of the jigsaw puzzle box in my photos.

To my own surprise and alarm apparently looking at the box is cheating.

She and her family look at the box briefly before starting and then put it away. They jigsaw blind.

I’m very surprised that this is considered to be normal behaviour.

She did a poll on FB but it’s not really valid is it, what with her friends list containing a cohort of weird non-boxers. It’s a family thing apparently.

Maybe mn can help clarify that she is a giant freak.

YANBU = I look at the box
YABU = I do my jigsaws blind

@BessMarvin, some puzzles have inside pieces with straight edges, and even corners.

As an exiled Londoner I have one that's a map of the City of London that I do blind, just to prove I can remember my way around the streets.

This thread has prompted me to add Wasgij to my mental list of "family activity" to fund during lockdown.

I thought this was going to be about the OP's DH.
Mine would never contemplate doing a jigsaw, with or without a picture to guide him. Too easy!

He just bought a digital cutting machine, didn't read any instructions, started with the advanced features then had a meltdown when he discovered it can't actually read his mind. AI fail.

luckily I can read manuals

I had to ask my DD to send me cat pictures to get me through the day.

YANBU OP. I've just done this one and it wouldn't even have occurred to me not to look at the box. I would have been at it for weeks!

Frankly I think you’re all frauds to the jigsaw community. When I do a jigsaw I don’t look at the box once. I blindfold myself first and then continue to complete the puzzle without a toilet, food or drink break. You are all jigsaw lightweights and a shame to the community!!!! 😡😡

YANBU

I enjoy looking at the picture. Your friend sounds unfriendly.

Thanks for the replies about not starting with straight edges! I am now really missing doing jigsaws (while looking at the box) but it's not likely with 2 small children. (Unless it's 12 piece Gruffalo puzzles.)

I love your dinosaur jigsaw @VetOnCall

I quite enjoy trying to do the jigsaw without looking at the box, but I certainly don’t think using the box is cheating. That's what it's for!

I do a lot of Wasgij's though where the box is no help at all😂

Does she turn the jigsaw pieces over so there's no picture at all?

I would cry and give up if I couldn't look at the box I fear....

Anyway when do we get to see your new and most excellent jigsaw puzzle assembly command station @SkippyDies? I assume you are talking more than a piece of wood balanced over a coffee table with a desk lamp clamped to it?

Of course I look at the box and start at the edges.

Only a psychopath wouldn’t. (Sorry about your DS14 @iklboo)

How can you not look at the box? That's nuts. Make the frame first, then fill in using the picture as a guide. My current 1000 piece has been at the frame stage for a week though as lost interest.

The command station

Oooooohhhhhh!

It has obviously been necessary to send a link of this thread to my aberrant non-boxer friend to assist her with understanding that she is doing it wrong, and that she’s also likely to be harbouring unrealised homicidal tendencies.

I received a message from her this morning, that I have gained consent to share.

“ Anyway, puzzles are a sore point this morning. Roger [not his real name] has finished ours and there’s a piece missing!!!”

She goes on...

“This sort of disaster doesn’t discriminate. It can hit boxers and non-boxers alike and what is important at times like these is that we realise that at the end of the day we’re all in this together, regarding of our box/no-box tendencies.”

I have shared my heartfelt condolences with her.

the command station

Wow. If Captain Kirk did jigsaws on the Enterprise he'd have a set up like that........

I like to relax and listen to a play or podcast with a jigsaw. Part of the enjoyment is relating the pieces to the picture. Near the end I love to get to the ‘sweet spot’ where I no longer need the picture.

I love the command station but prefer a different setup myself.

Great thread, OP.

Hello. I have started a puzzle. It's 1000 pieces. It, and a 2000 puzzle, were in the boot of my car and a few pieces got mixed up. Now seems a good time to have a go at sorting them out. I always use the picture!

Wow, that jigsaw command station, I would love that but we dont have the room.

I love Wentworth Jigsaws, start with the edges but its never that simple with them as they always use triangle pieces opposite to fill the gaps in and corners are often two triangles and not a corner piece. But I love they have shapes cut out to compliment the puzzle, so cats in cat themed ones, horses for horse theme ones etc.

I do have a couple of mystery ones with no picture but Im not sure I have the patience for those.

On the plus side a 250 piece of theirs normally fits on a lap tray so my jigsaw station is a lot smaller area.

Lol at response from your friend op!

Funny, except when I was kid or playing with my children, I've never done a puzzle and never an adult one. Until lockdown. I started a 680 piece one that I'd bought and put away for MIL. Did the outside and then had no idea where to start. In the end I put colours or obvious parts together in little piles and then tackled each part, eg roof, car, tree, sky etc. Really looked forward to my puzzle hour after the kids had finished learning! Started a smaller one (500 pieces) yesterday and had it done in an arvo. Much less satisfying.

What tactics do you use to tackle them?