Jigsaw puzzles are a great indoor activity enjoyed by adults and children alike. It is considered to be one of the most effective stress-relieving and time-honoured activities enjoyed by people from all over the world.
The origin of jigsaw puzzles can be traced back to the 1700s when John Spilsbury, a map engraver, built the first jigsaw puzzle. In 1762, Spilsbury engraved a world map onto a piece of wood and proceeded to cut out the countries from the wooden map. He did so to teach geography lessons to the local school kids.
This is how jigsaw puzzles were created, and now almost everyone indulges in this fun indoor game worldwide. With the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in orders for custom jigsaw puzzles in Australia.
People have been enjoying it much more and are trying to figure out ways to solve these puzzles within the minimum time. Several tips and tricks can help you assemble these puzzles effectively in less time.
How to Solve Jigsaw Puzzles Australia Like an Expert?
Here are tricks and tips to help you put together these Jigsaw puzzles in Australia faster, without losing your mind.
Clear Out an Area According to the Puzzle Size
A designated area to accommodate the finished puzzle is essential. Otherwise, you will have to start from the beginning every time you move the puzzle to a new place. The original size of the puzzle is mentioned on the box to give you a clear idea of how much space you need.
The best place to assemble jigsaw puzzles is a flat surface that is not easily disturbed or used in your daily life. While the kitchen table does look like a great place to solve the puzzle, it is not a very practical idea to do it there. This is where puzzle mats come in handy and offer a great surface to assemble large jigsaw puzzles.
Picture Side Up
Once you clear out the area for assembling the puzzle, spread all the puzzle pieces on the flat surface and turn the picture side upward. Yes, it sounds like a very tedious job, especially for 500 or 1000 piece puzzles, but it is worth it.
Once the picture side is turned upwards, it will help you finish the puzzle.
Sort the Pieces
Many people jump head-on to assemble jigsaw puzzles in Australia without sorting out the pieces first. Yes, sorting the puzzle pieces is quite dull and time-consuming, but doing so will help you significantly in the later stages of assembly.
Professional jigsaw puzzle players recommend sorting the pieces according to shape, colour, or pattern into different trays. Similarly, the border pieces must be sorted separately in a different corners.
If the centrepieces of the puzzle have no specific pattern or colour, try to separate them into a different tray. Once the pieces are classified according to colour, design, and shape, it will be comparatively easier to assemble them.
Start With the Border
Start the puzzle by creating the border first and then working inwards. Once you establish the boundaries, it will define the total area you need to finish the puzzle. Also, if you do not find all the border pieces, don’t fret. You will find them soon during the assembly process.
Focus on Small Segments
While many follow their whimsy and start with pieces that catch their attention, that is an inefficient way to solve a jigsaw puzzle. You can focus on smaller sections and solve them to bring about the bigger picture.
For example, building the hut or the boat in the picture. Once you have completed that particular section, place it within the puzzle border where you think it will go. This will be a visual guide to assembling the other parts of the puzzle.
Don’t Waste Time
One of the biggest mistakes while solving jigsaw puzzles is to look for that one missing piece for a long time. While finishing a section with that one piece is very tempting, do not spend too much time looking for it. It is common to miss a few critical elements, but they will come up as you advance.
The Bottomline
Solving custom jigsaw puzzles in Australia after days of contemplation is rewarding and joyful, especially when you put in the final piece. Now that you have some help with jigsaw puzzles go and play your heart out!