Jigsaws - what sort of psychopath does a jigsaw

[Eeepsh]

And doesn't start with the edges?

DH has started our new one and is randomly putting middle pieces together.

AIBU to LTB immediately and fill in the sectioning paperwork.

Removing the poll as there is obviously no-one sane who would vote against me.

Lightheated btw.

🤣🤣

I do edges first unless the edge is a border/trim with no real images on, then it gets kept til last.

I do:-
Edges
First sift - pick out something which spans across the image, like a river. Pick out all these and build what I can
Second Sift - pick out all trees/hedges/leaves. Build what I can
Third Sift - people. All parts of them.

Then I just work through by colours.

I have a friend who picks up a random piece, looks to see where it sits on the image and lays it on the table in the rough corresponding area. Each. Piece.

Now that's a psycho.

Yes, I do the edges first, though I won’t pass up the opportunity to do any easy patches in the middle.

If you want a challenge that will send you completely nuts, do a 1000 piece puzzle of Van Gogh’s Starry Nights. You’re welcome.

Corners and edges first. Otherwise divorce!

My DH knows better than to touch my jigsaw! I do let my DS (13) help.

We divide it into 16 sections (using numbered envelopes) then sort the pieces into each section until we get stuck. Then we pick envelopes with lots of pieces and start assembling that section.🙄

When I win big on the lottery, my new home will have a jigsaw room. I spend many hours daydreaming about my jigsaw room

I do:

Edges and corners first.
Sort everything else into piles, sometimes by colour but often by topic eg "people" or "train" or "sky".
Then pick my favourite part. If there's a train, I do that first.
Background dirge like sky or sea or whatever is done last and not until the pieces are sorted within each grouping to "two in, two out, four out" etc.

That! There is one at haematology which I got invested in, a massive one
I was quite happy as they make you a brew and give you cake/biscuits
Then they called me in and someone else was doing it when I got back

I have multiple unruly cats who regularly ''participate'' in puzzle assembly by walking all over everything and occasionally sprawling out over current endeavour for a well earned nap. All of this is fine thanks to the roll up puzzle mat (mine's Ravensburger).
For Christmas I bought an Elena Essex one (cornucopia), it's beautiful and pretty easy to do. Nice and relaxing.
Fuelled on this success I then rooted out an old puzzle I got as a child in the 80s, it's only a 500 piece puzzle, photo of a cute kitten, FML it's sooooo difficult, the kitten's face is OK but as you get further away from its nose it gets more and more blurred.
I've ordered a few more puzzles on secondhand puzzles but can't start a new one until the kitten is finished, the frustration!

Does anyone else tidy up by putting the edges and corners into a sandwich bag to get a head start next time/ help the next person to do the jigsaw?

My god, that's insane. Complete psychopath.

You have no option but to start building a new patio ....

I just do the easy bits first!

@Gardenproud I recently bought a second hand puzzle and the person had “helpfully” put the edges in a separate bag. Utter lunacy if you ask me.

If you start with the edge you can’t use a jigsaw mat.

What, even if it’s not a picture of the Gruffalo?

Wtf. Unless he accidentally turned over a load of pieces and they made sense then LTB

I do start with the edges but I’m not averse to doing some other bits as I go along.

However, now and again I’ll come across a puzzle where the edge of the picture is really bland and samey and it’s actually harder than a lot of the middle sections. For example, DP got a jigsaw made for me once from a black and white photo and the edges were basically just all the same dark grey and it ended up being easier to do the edges last. Unsettling.

Always edges first. Was stuck on a jigsaw for a long time last year as non edge pieces also had straight sides….so had to stop trying to do the edges and build sections instead 🤷‍♀️🤪🧐

This 100%.

I never look at the picture.

I start with middle coloured bits and work my way outwards.

I can't believe there are so many people who do jigsaws the wrong way. I'm genuinely upset. Don't you all know that there is only one correct way to have fun?

We just noodle about doing what we please in this household. It all fits together eventually and it’s a very satisfying way of doing it - sort of a ‘solitary but together’ activity.

Send your DH round to ours as he’s fit right in ☺️

Edge always first, unless it is very same-y and then sometimes that has to get done at the end.

I try to do by 'feature' and gradually build up. I have sorting trays which makes it all a lot easier. I have a puzzle board, sadly it no longer fits under the settee (now have recliners), but I tried a roll up one and really didn't like it so it went back to the charity shop.

I have a fabulous charity shop near work that sells them for £1, so get a good supply.

My Mum and Dad were given a puzzle of their area as a Christmas present, it looks really difficult, especially as theirs is in b&w.

https://www.butlerandhill.co.uk/products/customised-map-jigsaw-puzzle?variant=34814597838

I knew a woman that wouldn’t put all the jigsaw pieces out. She would leave the jigsaw out
and encouraged visitors to help her complete. I was unaware of this craziness and found about half the jigsaw still in the box, so helpfully put them out to be informed of her unique approach to jigsaws, she was a psychopath.

Never start with the edges - it's way too fragile and you might lose a bit.
I start with a key object, to create a solid blob to work with - an animal, a fireplace, a house etc. Then build out from there.