All about Jigsaw Puzzles

Somewhere around last year I started a new hobby i.e solving jigsaw puzzles. I came across a jigsaw puzzle community based out of Bangalore. And, happen to join their whatsapp group. Turned out it wasn’t limited to Bangalore folks. There were folks from PAN India. They solved the jigsaw puzzles and use to share puzzle pictures in the group. That is how I got started.

To the best of my memory I don’t remember if in childhood I ever solved jigsaw puzzles. Exploring, trying and learning new activities every now and then has taught me one thing. Everything has its own progression. Starting with the toughest is a sure shot way to get frustrated and quit.

However, in India. I have seen all jigsaws being marketed for 6+ year old kids. And, seeing this adults feel puzzles are not meant for us. They are for kids. On telling adults others about jigsaw puzzles or hosting jigsaw puzzles often leads to a giggle. Grown up doing jigsaw? Meh ..

After having solved around 12+ puzzles over a year. I can tell you there is some challenge for all. They are not just for “kids”. There are puzzles for adults. When I explored market outside India. I found out that there they have puzzles marketed for families, senior citizens. While puzzle stays the same, every piece is of different size depending on the age. Small pieces are for middle aged, medium for kids and bigger pieces for senior citizens.

Patients recovering from critical illness like Dementia, Alzheimer, stroke. Are often recommended jigsaw puzzles for cognitive rehabilitation.

What types of puzzles and piece counts are available ?

1. Cardboard Puzzles - Starting from 20-30 pieces to 2000 pieces or even maybe more is available.
2. Wooden Puzzles - All pieces are wooden. Pieces have whimsical shapes. This adds on to the challenge.
3. Acrylic Puzzles - Not as common.

Ways you can increase the challenge ?

There are several ways you can up the challenge.

1. Solving higher number of piece counts eg. 500-1000 pieces.
2. Solving puzzles which have different piece shapes rather then one with standard piece shapes.
3. Puzzle having a difficult picture. Less color variation.
4. Solve puzzles which have only color gradients no objects.
5. Try puzzles with irregular boundary, shape. Rather than regular straight boundary.

Below is one of the challenging ones I solved last month.

Progression in Jigsaw Puzzle?

To each their own. Sharing my journey and progression with jigsaw puzzles.
Started with solving a cardboard puzzle of 150 pieces. Did 4-5 more puzzles of 150 pieces. When, I felt like I can explore more. I am able to do them. Explored wooden puzzles piece counts ranging from 70-140 pieces. Solving a higher piece count puzzle first and then moving to a puzzle with lower piece count doesn’t necessarily translate that you are regressing instead of progressing. It simply implies the puzzle can have some different challenge. This is how I see it.

Jigsaw Puzzle brands available in India?

1. Jigsaw Nation - Sells cardboard puzzles. Puzzles available through their own website.
2. Frank - Sells cardboard puzzles. Puzzles are available on Amazon India.
3. 91Knots - Wooden puzzles. Puzzles are available on Amazon.
4. Ameya Games - Wooden Puzzles. Puzzles are available on their website as well as Amazon. Premium quality when it comes to pieces.
5. Galison - Galison is not a Indian brand. Though, their puzzles are available on Amazon India. Usually, known for puzzles ranging between 500-1000 pieces. Very pretty puzzle designs.
6. PieceUp - Sells cardboard puzzles, fixed piece count 80 pieces. High quality designs. You can reach out to them via their Instagram handle. Women owned.
7. Puzzlist.co - Newly opened brand based out of Chennai. A part of earnings from the puzzles is given to Cancer care foundation (I don’t know the foundation name) and a part to the puzzle artist. Women owned, family run small business.

Jigsaw Puzzle brands outside India?

1. Bits and Pieces - Cardboard puzzles, have puzzles with bigger piece size, different shapes. Available on Amazon US.
2. Ceaco Puzzles - Cardboard puzzles, bigger piece size, different shapes. Usually puzzles are related to Disney characters. Available on their official website, Target US, Amazon US.
3. Wentworth - Sells premium quality wooden puzzles. Brand is based out of UK. Puzzles are available on their official website. Piece shapes in particular are whimsical.
4. PuzzleLab - Wooden puzzles, brand is based out of Canada. Has expensive puzzles, and challenging piece shapes and design. Usual piece count is 175 pieces, 300 pieces puzzle
5. StumpCraft - Sells premium quality wooden puzzles. Puzzles are expensive. Piece count range from less than 100 to 600 & up.
6. Ravensburger - Brand based out of US, sells premium quality cardboard puzzles. From 99 pieces to 1000+ pieces. Puzzles available on Amazon US, brands official website.
7. NewYork Puzzle Company - Based out of US, sells cardboard puzzles. Piece count range starts from mini puzzles (99-100 pieces) to 1000 pieces puzzles.

Why jigsaw puzzles?

Some time back at the book meetup. I was having a conversation with someone. Hot topic as usual was fiction vs non fiction. And, he quoted “At least reading non fiction feels like having some purpose to read the book. Unlike in fiction.” As we grow up, I think we start to see everything from the perspective of what will this activity help me learn? At times have started drawing random conclusions from events and occasions and to make it a social media post. In the process, often losing the point that some activities can only be for fun, to unwind and relax. In this hyper connected world.

All that being said, if you are still interested in knowing the why’s. Here is list of things solving jigsaws can help with.

1. Patience - Patience isn’t a pre-requisite to start jigsaw puzzling. It is something that can be developed.
2. Focus and concentration - Almost everyone complains about how attention timespan is getting shorter. As a result of consuming short form content, youtube shorts, reels, tweets. Jigsaw is one of the ways to turn it other way around. Don’t complain, take action.
3. No screen time - Gives you opportunity to be away from doom scrolling.
4. Sense of achievement - Each completed puzzle gives sense of achievement.

Can help improve skills we take for granted.

1. Fine Motor skills
2. Hand-Eye coordination.
3. Attention to detail - Trains the brain to notice subtle differences in color, shape, pattern.

Puzzle Communities in India?

1. Playful Pursuits - Community is based out of Bangalore. Hosts puzzle meetups every Monday, at Underline center. People of all age groups are welcome. Has wide variety of puzzle collection. From varying piece count, several brands, offering different level of challenge.

2. Untangle - Untangle is a space in Chennai. Having wide range of puzzles. They have 2 centres in Chennai. One in T-nagar and another in Taynampet Chennai.

3. Online WhatsApp community by Playful pursuits.

Puzzle once solved is waste ? Won’t do it again?

1. There is a whatsapp group to sell your pre-loved puzzles. You can either sell the puzzle, or if multiple people are interested in buying. You can auction. Group has rules everyone adheres too. Group runs on trust. Shipping cost is usually born by the person buying your puzzle.

2. Ever considered framing puzzles ? They look beautiful, and cardboard puzzles can be framed.

3. Puzzle Library - There is a whatsapp community i.e Puzzle Library. You can put on their page. Share your puzzle with others, try out puzzles posted by others. It has some rules regarding how can one participate in it. I haven’t explored it yet.

Competitive Puzzling?

Similar to speedcubing. There are speed puzzling competitions. There is also World Jigsaw Championship. Where people from different countries compete.

Within India, at Bangalore. Playful pursuits organizes Piece-Off. Which is speed puzzling competition. You can participate as Individual or as a team.

Mumbai also organizes one.

That’s all. This was more of a brain dump about everything I learned over time about jigsaw puzzles. On and off seeing pictures couple of friends, cousins did reach out and show interest. If you have been still at the fence. This is your sign, its never too old to try anything new. 😊

May mindfully putting pieces in place give you peace and happiness. Happy puzzling. 🧩