They say “Write what you know.” I probably don’t know everything about jigsaw puzzles, but I know far more now than I did a few years ago—and there’s a lot more to this hobby than I’d ever imagined.
I’ve always enjoyed puzzles, mostly with my mom over holiday breaks, but during the pandemic, puzzling became one of my go-to ways to pass the hours of isolation. As a Modern Old Maid, an added perk to living alone is that I can leave a puzzle out on the kitchen table for as long as I please.
The micro-serotonin burst with each piece fitting into place is addictive. I often find it hard to walk away as “Just one more piece” turns into another hour past my bedtime.
The Cost of Puzzling
Puzzles are not cheap. A decent one averages around $20-$30 for 1000 pieces. You can occasionally find less expensive ones at dollar stores, but once you delve into the puzzle world, there are certain brands and specific designs you’ll really want to experience.
When you start completing one or two puzzles each week, costs can quickly add up.
Enter the Puzzle Swap
Swapping puzzles with friends is a great way to save money and add more variety to your puzzling experience. But if you don’t have puzzling friends or just want to expand your options, there are both virtual and in-person puzzle swaps available.
Facebook and Reddit both have groups dedicated to swapping puzzles. Facebook groups are localized, so you can make arrangements for a trade online, then meet up to make the exchange—like a scene from a crime drama. Reddit offers a wider range due to its less localized nature, but you will likely have to deal with shipping costs.
You can also check if your neighborhood library has a puzzle exchange program. My library recently started offering puzzles on loan and provides a great place to donate puzzles you’ve completed.
Online groups are also excellent resources for finding in-person puzzle swaps. Think swap meet, but everyone is trading the same thing, and the most popular payment method is in puzzle pieces: 1000 for 1000, 500 for 500, etc. Brand quality and condition also play significant roles in determining the value of your puzzles. I usually wait until I’ve racked up a good load of puzzles before looking for a swap event in my area.
How to Pick the Perfect Puzzle
Jigsaw puzzles have been around since the 1700s, and today there’s no shortage of options in style, material, imagery, and quality.
Ravensburger has been producing high-quality puzzles since 1891 and continues to release some of the most desirable collections. The piece fit is smooth, and the printing of the image is crisp and clear. These puzzles are like carrying a blank check around any puzzle swap.
Other popular quality brands include Pomegranate, Magnolia, and Art & Fable. These are all well-loved for their fit and finish and represent the top tier of puzzle makers.
It can also be rewarding to discover newer, smaller puzzle manufacturers. Novelty is highly valued among puzzle swappers, whether it’s something you pick up while traveling abroad or a new brand you find in the depths of an internet search.
Chuffed is one such smaller puzzle maker that offers what I consider to be the highest quality in a small, quirky, artistic range of puzzles. Trevell, Seltzer, La Fabrique à Puzzles are all worth browsing when you feel like indulging in a puzzle splurge.
More common brands with widely available selections include Galison, White Mountain, CEACO, Eeboo, and Cobble Hill. These are readily found in stores and online in a dizzying array of piece counts and image styles.
The more puzzles you complete, the sooner you’ll discover your preferences. Some puzzlers enjoy the quick satisfaction of smaller piece counts (300-750), while others prefer the challenge of 1000+ pieces. I enjoy alternating larger and smaller puzzles.
The image on any puzzle will significantly influence how much you enjoy it. If it’s a picture you absolutely adore, the experience will be satisfying regardless of the challenge level. But if you want to avoid frustration, you might steer clear of vast areas featuring a single color or repetitive patterns like clouds, trees, or bricks.
A Quick Word on Wooden Puzzles
Wooden puzzles are an entirely different experience. They function differently than traditional jigsaw puzzles—each piece is unique, and most incorporate pieces known as “whimsies” that are shaped like objects or figures. For example, a puzzle depicting flowers might include several pieces shaped like flowers.
Jigsaw enthusiasts tend to have either a love or hate relationship with wooden puzzles. For some, they don’t scratch the same itch as cardboard puzzles. For others, they provide a welcome change from the routine when you’re finishing multiple puzzles weekly.
It’s definitely worth investing in a wooden puzzle (they’re typically more expensive than standard puzzles) to determine if they fit (pun intended) your style.
The Hardcore Puzzle Elite
As I’ve mentioned, I’m far from the most dedicated puzzle enthusiast. There exists an entire community of serious puzzlers who complete upwards of 30,000 pieces monthly. How? They’re speed puzzlers.
Speed puzzling is exactly what it sounds like: set a timer, start a puzzle, and see how quickly you can complete it. There are websites and apps where you can compete against others, or you can attend social events where teams race to complete a single puzzle together. It’s a great way to meet fellow puzzle enthusiasts, though I personally found the stress of racing quickly sucked the joy our of one of my favorite pastimes.
The competition gets even more intense. National puzzle racing competitions qualify participants for international events. The USA Jigsaw Nationals and the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship are major events that are streamed live, and the finals can be genuinely exciting as competitors place their final pieces.
MySpeedPuzzling.com offers anyone the opportunity to test their skills at racing virtually and compare their times to others who have completed the same puzzle.
Boxing It Up
Final note: Always disassemble your completed puzzle and place the pieces in a ziplock bag before returning them to the box. This courtesy will ensure you maintain good relationships with future swap partners.
This may be more information than you ever wanted about the fascinating world of puzzling, but I’ve found it interesting to learn all of this over the past few years—and well, it’s my blog, so…
Do you have any other enjoyable Old Maid hobbies? Inspire us to try something new by sharing what you love to do in the comments!
