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Post by monklady123 on Aug 3, 2022 21:50:12 GMT
Dd is spending a couple of nights here (yay!) so we just started a jigsaw puzzle, which caused me to think about this question. lol For me, first I take out all the edges by carefully going through every single piece, transferring the non-edges to the other box while I do it. My dh just wants to start putting together parts of the puzzle when he sees colors that go together. I think dd leans toward his method but she tolerates me and my edges, but she also pulls out distinct colors as she's helping me go through the pieces to get the edges. And if putting together the edges becomes at all difficult she leaves me to it and starts working on the middle. But if I were doing a puzzle completely alone I wouldn't do a single piece of the middle until I had all the edges done. And because of my edge thing when I take a puzzle apart I carefully remove the edges and put them in a small ziplock bag and put that back in the box with the rest of the pieces. Because despite my insistence on doing the edges first I absolutely hate picking them out. lol. So if I ever do that puzzle again the edges will be waiting for me in that little ziplock. A friend of mine has the odd (odd to me, lol) practice of getting rid of the box completely so no one can refer to it when putting the puzzle together. She's done with with her kids from when they were very young and working on simple 50-piece puzzles.... No box. When the puzzle is done she puts all the pieces in a large ziplock bag. What's your preferred method? I suspect I'm weird with my edge fixation.   |
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Post by canadianlinda on Aug 3, 2022 21:58:50 GMT
I’m very similar to you….I have to do all the edge pieces first and then my husband does the inside mostly by matching colours. When we are finished I put the edge pieces into a bag so I don’t have to sort them again. I can’t imagine not having the front of the box for reference 😳
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Post by SnoopyFan on Aug 3, 2022 22:02:50 GMT
I am like you. Edges first always! And they go into a Ziplock bag when the puzzle gets taken apart.
When I was growing up my sister was always working puzzles. She would look at the picture one and only one time and then put the box cover away. I grew up thinking that was the proper way to work a puzzle, and you weren't allowed to look at the picture once you had started working the puzzle. My ex-husband thought I was crazy when I explained that "rule" to him. LOL!
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Post by gar on Aug 3, 2022 22:06:05 GMT
I do the edges first but, but…put them in a bag for next time? 😳 No that’s akin to cheating in my book!! 😁
As for throwing away the box - what sort of nonsense is that?? 😯
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Post by tommygirl on Aug 3, 2022 22:22:49 GMT
Puzzles are a family affair here.
We definitely start by separating edges but we also will separate by like colors or distinct patterns at the same time.
Usually one person will really work on the edges (it rotates who that person is) while the others separate colors.
When we get near the end or if we have a difficult section we will separate by shape.
We like the 1000 pieces+ size puzzles. We always refer to the picture on the box or the insert picture if there is one.
Our issue is that we hate to take them apart after they are completed. We have a huge one that was especially difficult to complete glued together.
My dd gave us a puzzle (made from Shutterfly) that was a collage of family pictures we had recently had done. It was really difficult but super sentimental! We finally took it apart when we had extra company coming and would need use of the table it was on!
So interesting that the op keeps the edge pieces in a ziplock!
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Post by Really Red on Aug 3, 2022 22:27:56 GMT
What kind of a person starts in the middle! That's like eating a cake from the middle!!! Of course you start with the edges! I have this Puzzle storage system and these sorting trays and I love them! I can move the puzzle if I need to and I always know what size it's going to be (unless it is not square or rectangular). I do separate colors, but get to them after I've done the edges. |
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Post by cmpeter on Aug 3, 2022 22:29:25 GMT
Similar to you. But, I never do the same puzzle twice, so I don’t keep the edges together when I take the puzzle apart.
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Post by Really Red on Aug 3, 2022 22:29:38 GMT
I am like you. Edges first always! And they go into a Ziplock bag when the puzzle gets taken apart. When I was growing up my sister was always working puzzles. She would look at the picture one and only one time and then put the box cover away. I grew up thinking that was the proper way to work a puzzle, and you weren't allowed to look at the picture once you had started working the puzzle. My ex-husband thought I was crazy when I explained that "rule" to him. LOL! I do Wasgij puzzles and never look at the box. It's funny when I do a different puzzle and can look at the picture. I almost never do. It takes the fun away! |
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Post by Karene on Aug 3, 2022 22:31:42 GMT
I have 7 little boxes. I separate the pieces into different colours plus one box just for the edges. I then put the edges together first which gives me a free box. I then start on a box at a time, going through the pieces a few at time, putting ones I want to use on the board, and ones I'm not ready for in the empty box. I use the pieces I separated and then might go onto another box of colours and do the same thing. I am back and forth between my boxes as I see parts that can use pieces from that colour.
As I get down in the number of pieces, I will re-separate them according to shape.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Aug 3, 2022 22:36:00 GMT
This thread makes me nostalgic. My mama and I worked so many jigsaw puzzles together through the years. I also do a lot with my college friend group - we start one almost every time we take a trip together.
We always do the frame of the puzzle first. And as we sort for them, we go ahead and pre-sort some of the colors and patterns in the puzzle. Then we generally work from the outside to the middle as we fill it all in. Always with a fun-spirited 'contest' to see who can place the last piece.
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J u l e e
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Post by J u l e e on Aug 3, 2022 22:39:35 GMT
What kind of a person starts in the middle! That's like eating a cake from the middle!!! Of course you start with the edges! I have this Puzzle storage system and these sorting trays and I love them! I can move the puzzle if I need to and I always know what size it's going to be (unless it is not square or rectangular). I do separate colors, but get to them after I've done the edges. This is genius!! I never knew there was something out there like this. I must have it!! |
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Post by gillyp on Aug 3, 2022 22:43:09 GMT
Edges first and any bits that clearly go together, then the rest. The box is referred to for the picture and all the pieces, including the edges, get mixed up and replaced in the box after the puzzle has been completed. When I do an online puzzle I never refer to the picture, I just go for it. That’s the way I roll. |
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kate
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Post by kate on Aug 3, 2022 22:45:21 GMT
We do puzzles by color group. Usually somebody starts putting edges together, but it's by no means "edges first!" I can't imagine not looking at the picture! We do not repeat puzzles. After we finish one, we admire it for awhile, then off to the thrift store it goes. I'm admiring Really Red's setup... Might make a good Christmas present.  |
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Post by katlady on Aug 3, 2022 22:45:36 GMT
I sort the pieces first, edges and similar colors/items in their own groups. For instance, if there are words, I'll put those in a separate pile. Same with buildings, people, etc. I put the edges together first. If I am missing a piece, I just go ahead and start the rest of the puzzle. I eventually find the missing end piece. When I am done, I just tear it apart and put all the pieces back in the box. I don't keep the edges separate and I rarely do a puzzle more than once. I mainly do 1000 piece ones. I feel like the cut of the pieces can make a puzzle difficult. I had one where all the pieces were odd shaped, they were not the standard shapes you have with most puzzle. That puzzle was hard! Based on the design, it shouldn't have been that hard, but it took me over a month. I would get frustrated and could only work on it no more than an hour at a time. I felt good when I found 10 pieces. I try not to look at the cover once I start the puzzle. I told a girlfriend that and she thought I was weird. She said nobody does that! I am glad I found my puzzle tribe here! What kind of a person starts in the middle! I did that for one puzzle. The edges, and a couple of rows/columns in, were all black! I didn't feel like dealing with that first, so I started on the design part of the puzzle. ETA - I work on a large piece of cardboard. I have two, one for a cover. If I have to, I can move the puzzle, or cover it to protect the pieces. |
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Aug 3, 2022 22:57:09 GMT
Edge pieces sorted out first, then put the frame together. After that I just choose a large area of color to work out. Sometimes the skyline, or perhaps the ground if it is anchoring to the picture. Puzzling is a solo activity for me, as I’ve never been able to get DD and DH interested. They don’t like games either. 😢. When the puzzle is completed, I take a photo then leave it out for a few days. After that I put the pieces into a big ziploc bag and store it in the box. Since I never do a puzzle twice, I pass them along when I have a chance.
“A friend of mine has the odd (odd to me, lol) practice of getting rid of the box completely so no one can refer to it when putting the puzzle together. She's done with with her kids from when they were very young and working on simple 50-piece puzzles.... No box. When the puzzle is done she puts all the pieces in a large ziplock bag.“
That’s just weird! Not to mention it goes against everything I’m about - keeping as much stuff in the original box as possible!
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Post by Skellinton on Aug 3, 2022 22:59:34 GMT
Absolutely crust first. It is barbaric to do it any other way!
I do You starting trays and has some sorting out the crust. I will put pieces either by color or object or words or other obvious design in their specific trays.
I don't do puzzles again either so they just all go back in the box and I shake it up real hard before donating.
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lavawalker1
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Jul 9, 2021 21:41:57 GMT
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Post by lavawalker1 on Aug 3, 2022 23:01:29 GMT
I do all the edges first like you, and so does my DH and MIL. But I never thought of putting all the edge pieces in a ziplock when done. Great idea!
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 3, 2022 23:07:15 GMT
What's your preferred method? I suspect I'm weird with my edge fixation. Everyone in this family works the edges first. The only thing I think is weird is that you keep the edge pieces in a separate bag when done.  I remember another pea talking about doing the same thing when trading puzzles with other people. DD and I did a lot of puzzling during 2020. She would pull the edges and divide the other pieces into trays. Sometimes if an obvious few pieces went together, she might pull them aside. When she was done the edges, I was allowed to work on the center. She likes to work a puzzle bottom to top and I like to move around as sections catch my eye. We also did a lot of circle puzzles and find the middle pieces while working on the outside edge. FWIW, we either use a blank famed canvas or a piece of foam board DH cut for us to puzzle. It is easy to move and the pieces slide nicely on it. DH mounted a few puzzles we saved, but most were traded or given away with the pieces in ONE ziplock bag and the original box. |
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Post by littlemama on Aug 3, 2022 23:11:26 GMT
Edges first because Im not a lunatic. 😂😂 While Im sorting, I will separate by color though
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maryannscraps
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Post by maryannscraps on Aug 3, 2022 23:28:21 GMT
DH loves to sort and put together the edges. I sort by color and feature and start putting together chunks. I’m the expert at skies in our family - I love doing them. I usually take the upside down position and never look at the box. DH matches pieces to the box and had to work right side up.
We rarely do a puzzle again.
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Post by greendragonlady on Aug 3, 2022 23:46:53 GMT
It is Against. The. Law. to NOT do the edges first! What kind of monster doesn't?   |
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Post by KiwiJo on Aug 3, 2022 23:54:19 GMT
We live in a retirement village and the library here has lots of jigsaw puzzles to borrow.
There is someone here who also puts the edge pieces in a separate bag - but DH & I have discovered they usually slip 2 or 3 edge pieces in with the ordinary pieces, so we have to go through them all anyway!
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Post by littlemama on Aug 3, 2022 23:59:48 GMT
What kind of a person starts in the middle! That's like eating a cake from the middle!!! Of course you start with the edges! I have this Puzzle storage system and these sorting trays and I love them! I can move the puzzle if I need to and I always know what size it's going to be (unless it is not square or rectangular). I do separate colors, but get to them after I've done the edges. This is genius!! I never knew there was something out there like this. I must have it!! We have those, too! |
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Post by scrapmaven on Aug 4, 2022 0:14:12 GMT
I work the border first. Then I do the insides. I don't use the picture unless I'm really stuck. In fact, if I can do it w/o looking at the photo that is the most fun. Sil sees looking at the photo as cheating. I sort of do, but lately I've needed to cheat.
Have fun. |
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Post by melanell on Aug 4, 2022 0:26:32 GMT
I separate out the edge pieces, help DH create the border, then I sort out any obvious groups of pieces and maybe assemble a bit of those, and then I turn to DH, say "Have fun, Honey!", and leave him to it.  |
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janeliz
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Post by janeliz on Aug 4, 2022 0:34:54 GMT
My oldest DD and I are the jigsaw lovers in our house. We take all of the pieces out, she gets started on the edges, and I usually start sorting by recognizable designs, colors, etc.
She’s a puzzle master with an amazing eye, so I kind of act as her assistant. The few times I’ve done a puzzle without her have been challenging!
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Post by myshelly on Aug 4, 2022 1:05:17 GMT
We do jigsaws a lot at our house.
I am the one who opens them. I don’t like to just dump them out because then the cardboard dust goes everywhere. I take a handful at a time out of the bag and place them so they’re face up onto two sides of the counter - one side for edges, one side for non edges. I put the 4 corners up on the bar right above the counter. That way everything is organized and set up when my kids come to start doing the puzzle.
I like to work the edges first, but I don’t care what my kids start working on.
We don’t re work puzzles, so I take them apart just enough to put them back in the box (no taking every piece apart or keeping the edges separate or getting plastic baggies or anything). I either sell them on FB or take them to Half Price Books when we have a load to sell.
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Post by librarylady on Aug 4, 2022 1:30:00 GMT
Edges first and then create "obvious" items in the puzzle. Color groups then are developed and often we have an area about the size of the palm of one's hand and we can move that into position, or about where it will be in the finished puzzle.
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seaexplore
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Post by seaexplore on Aug 4, 2022 1:44:39 GMT
I do edges first in a pile in the middle of the space. Then I put the center pieces around the outside of where the frame will go. I build it on my quilting mat so theres a grid to line it up on. Most puzzles I do are 1000. I’ve done a few 2000 and 1500.
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Sarah*H
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Post by Sarah*H on Aug 4, 2022 1:50:43 GMT
I also sort and do the edges first. I have puzzle trays for separating colors. I move from section to section though, I don't need to finish one area before working on another. I generally work from the outside in unless there is an obvious pattern in the middle which will help it go faster.
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