HOW TO DO A JIGSAW PUZZLE QUICKLY

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Today I'm showing you how to do a jigsaw puzzle. Subscribe for new jigsaw puzzle videos every week!
I originally uploaded this video on / karenkavett on December 17, 2017, but when I started this new KZbin channel all about puzzling, I decided to move it over here! Original view count: 28,528
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[@KarenPuzzles]

This video is full of all of my tips and tricks on how to do a jigsaw puzzle quickly! Do you have any additional tips that you use? If you're wondering why I keep talking about Christmas, I originally uploaded this on my other channel in December 2017, but I decided to move it over here when I started this channel just for jigsaw puzzles!

[@TheDeerstalkerHat]

My additional tip is that you can sometimes sort pieces by aspect ratio, because depending on the way the puzzle is cut, sometimes the horizontal rows are wide and the vertical rows are thin (or vice versa) which you can use to figure out the orientation of a piece. That wouldn't have worked for this puzzle, though, because it's high quality and the shapes vary a lot :P

[@forgottotape]

My tip is when you're finished, put the pieces in a ziplock bag to prevent lost pieces!

[@anikacua2421]

this helped me so much

[@violetstarhaze]

So I had no idea that this chancel existed. I am a huge puzzle person. This makes me want to post videos about Man this is really making me want to make my own tip video.

[@andrei-ionutgranat9321]

if anyone can help me,sometimes when i put 2 pieces in 1 i think the fit but later i find out that they dont.i need an idea(i have one 2000 piece puzzle and one 3000)

[@alexblaze8878]

A jigsaw horror story... About 10 years ago my kids and I started a 5000 piece puzzle on our formal dining room table. I was active duty AF at the time and didn’t have a lot of time each day to work on it but slowly over the course of about 8 weeks, we were 90% done. I was sitting in my living room watching TV with the kids when out of the corner of my eye I saw my Chihuahua jump up onto a chair and onto the table, grab a piece and run off with it. The puzzle had been sitting out on the table for 2 months at this point unprotected and I had no idea the dog (my girlfriend’s dog) was capable of getting onto the table. All I could think about in that one horrific second it took me to leap off the couch and give chase was “that cannot be the first time he’s done that over the past two months...I could not have gotten that lucky to catch him doing it the very first time”. He spent hours a day at home roaming free with the puzzle just sitting there in various stages of completion. I tracked him down and got the soggy piece out of his mouth, placed it on a paper towel and then inside the pages of a heavy book to dry out the piece and flatten it out again. And then I anxiously spent the next week finishing the puzzle. I just knew there had to be more pieces missing but surprisingly every last one was there. I got so lucky to have caught him doing it the very first time he did it.

[@paulinabajek6366]

reading this gave me SO much anxiety...

[@alexblaze8878]

Super Purple Fluff yeah. Just typing it out caused me anxiety, I’m anal retentive about doing puzzles. Currently working on a 3000 piece ancient map of the earth puzzle.

[@jelissabroadbelt6768]

Dude my husky hates my puzzles and i glue them once complete. He found where i sto them away and chewed the center of one of my 2000 piece. It was at that moment that i battled with the decision to give him to a family member. Now when i puzzle every now and then a paw swipes across a corner of a puzzle in process or he slaps down a box with pieces. But that was the first and last time he chewed one I'll have you know!

[@goodmorning4498]

I had to finnish the story in order to breathe. 😥😅

[@evguy1547]

best 4:00am read ever in my life. low-key fuck the chihuahua but you caught that shit in the act. Dope and Congrats on a 5000

[@earlyflight]

I've been working on a 1000 pieces puzzle for over 24 hours and kinda feeling frustrated, but hearing you said ''It's gonna look the same whether you did it really fast or really slow " just comfort me a lot ! Those puzzles pieces left on my desk don't look so annoying right now. Really appreciate this video though!

[@susanmetz9892]

My daughter always tricks me by taking the last piece and hiding it so that I can’t find it. Then she will magically appear and put the last piece in and take credit for finishing the puzzle. We laugh about it though.

[@yadhiraloya9953]

She is smart and funny😂😂

[@tiinadroniiak39]

Susan Metz I’m guilty of this

[@dallaslehman8386]

Mine too.

[@tubezooman]

@@tiinadroniiak39 Yeah same sometimes i'm like that

[@miriamsinclair1655]

My dad was used to do that too. He is dead now is this Remind me of good mémorise...and his laugh.

[@sandynorris1250]

I’m 74 yrs old and have started doing jigsaw puzzles! I love your blog! Thank you for all your help!

[@himzenko]

its a video

[@LeenoxB1]

Are you still alive

[@jpatrick1967]

It’s so awesome that some people still enjoy low-tech things to keep them entertained. I grew up on jigsaw puzzles and model cars and airplanes. I never outgrew them. I’m trying to pass this on to my son, but it’s difficult when there are so many high-tech things out there. But you look like you enjoy this so much. It makes me happy that a young person appreciates them.

[@keppokkld]

jpatrick1967 it may have been difficult for your family to pass it onto you, don’t give up! It’ll pay off!!

[@keppokkld]

jpatrick1967 maybe mix it and do things he likes as well so that it’s a nice balance!

[@corvividgacha351]

It might make you happy to hear that my 13 year old classmate is obsessed with puzzles!

[@binditanner3759]

I still do puzzles, grew up doing them, got my kids to enjoy them too, so we all do family time puzzles, my kids ages are from 13 to 18. Also puzzle pieces. ❤❤

[@cameronmcgehee]

Please do not try and make him do something he does not want to do.

[@MelSoCal2011]

I use paper plates to sort colors. I can get a pack at the dollar store, sort by color/shade, and best of all, the plates stack! They're easy to move around and set aside when not being used. I can just look for "that one color" and organize as needed :) P.s. puzzle pieces!

[@miles4711]

Great idea! I just started my puzzling adventure and it didn't occur to me. I've even had a 50-pack at home 😅. *puts the regular plates back into the cupboard*

[@arioctober]

That is literally an amazing idea thank you so much

[@collette2908]

I've seen a lot of people do this (my sister is one), however, I'm afraid that being so lightweight, I would accidentally flip them and send the puzzle pieces flying! I'm not the most graceful person, LOL!

[@JoeVL99]

Just did my first puzzle in maybe 30 years and I owe it all to you. It was so satisfying. Started with 500 puzzle pieces. I taped it together based on another video you did and it will go up in my office! Thank you!

[@afeefamohamed1011]

Okay.

[@sandynichols4634]

Thank you, Karen! It's hard to believe that I am 57 years old and have never done a jigsaw puzzle before. I just bought one as a Christmas gift to start a new family hobby. We got the border together but then had no clue where to go from there. Your strategy on how to sort the puzzle pieces is so helpful! The puzzle is Leonardo Davinci's Last Supper and I will be gluing and framing it when we're done. 😊

[@janicem4382]

I used to put puzzles together with my Mom when she was convalescing. Sitting quietly, sometimes for hours, looking for puzzle pieces or chatting and sharing stories was a great way to spend time with her. My three sisters all have fond memories of this time.

[@terryberard7501]

One of my favorite hobbies is also doing puzzles. I'm 61 and have solved 100's over the years. I do them very similar to you. Edge pieces first. Sorting colours ans shapes, etc. But I purchased a large plastic container for laying all my pieces in. It's much larger than another puzzle box, so no laying them on top of each other. It had a lid that works as another surface for sorting. The container is about 24" x18". It has very low sides, about an inch deep. The kids edges are about half an inch. I also have several smaller plastic containers about 4"x 6" with low edges as well. I use these for sorting colours and shapes. I solve sections in the trays and use pieces of poster boards to lift and carry the sections to their proper places in the puzzle. I have cut out a few sizes to accommodate the sizes of sections I've completed in the containers. I too have no issue with breaking apart a puzzle 5 minutes after completion. Puzzles are expensive. I make at least 5, 1000 or more puzzles per week, so it can be very costly. I purchase the majority of my puzzles at second hand stores. You can purchase them for $2 or $3 each instead of $10 to $30 in retail stores. Over the many years I've been doing this, there have been less than about 6 puzzles ever missing a piece, and I've purchased 100's. . I often pick them up at garage sales for $1. I only do new ones if my husband or children give them to me as gifts. I will sometimes redo the same puzzles, but only after a few months of doing it. I donate my puzzles back to the second hand stores and to Retirement homes. I do however keep my favorite ones. I do have a life besides puzzles, but I have been battling cancer for several years, so am not able to be active or to be out in public a lot. Puzzles are great and something I really enjoy.

[@emma-jogill1032]

I hope you beat cancer. You got this❤

[@Nayclan]

Are you still there? I hope you are :)

[@alexanderreynolds6018]

The very first puzzle I got from a secondhand store had every single edge piece taken out. I haven't tried a thrift store puzzles since haha

[@ElewinaX]

I got into puzzles at the beginning of the pandemic and about a year ago one puzzle broke me and I never finished it. I also just couldn't make myself give it up and start a new one and so it lays unfinished and now after watching it I'm gonna finish it! Great tips, thank you!

[@user-himenes]

I believe in you! Right now I finished all fun parts of a 2000 puzzle, and there are like 700 pieces of only sky and sea... All dark blue with slightest gradient. I'm kinda afraid it will break me😅

[@stevievaughan5096]

did you finish it???

[@ElewinaX]

@@stevievaughan5096 I did!! :) I sorted by puzzle shape and managed to do it

[@stellaro519]

Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for sharing your story. Gonna ask that question. Did you finish?

[@stellaro519]

Just saw your answer. Sorted by puzzle shape and "voila".

[@robertkribs9513]

2 minor things - #1 Where there is a dominant color piece like the turquoise I pull them from the box so that finding all of the colors of the section easier - #2 At the end when you just have the one dominant color pieces left I sort them by shade before sorting by shape

[@collette2908]

Same here.

[@auntiedoodles6898]

Two more of my tips: I use a large plastic Ziploc bag to put the "Puzzle pieces" for storage when I'm done. Also when moving sections, I use a spatula to guide them into a white paper plate.

[@MorreskiBear]

So many blue "puzzle pieces" in that one. Sky pieces scare me. Well done!

[@danielle4971]

MorreskiBear “puzzle pieces” what else would you call them?

[@daltonknight3681]

One puzzle I have has mainly black pieces

[@Reeta10478]

I have a starry night puzzle and it’s took me days for figure out and I still haven’t wish me luck for the rest of the puzzle

[@wana2567]

@@danielle4971 watch 28:10 you fool

[@99krustykrab]

I have a Star Wars puzzle with lots of black "space" and white and yellow dots (distant stars). I get blurry vision every time I assemble it. 🤪

[@livingloud3945]

I am a 60 yr old woman on a tropical island vacationing for 3 months alone. I began to think about what I wanted to do as a hobby and I remembered as a youth, I enjoyed puzzles. I came across your video when searching for instructions on how to hang a puzzle and I found your presentation to be a bubbly joy to listen to. God bless you sweetie. I thoroughly enjoyed. (Puzzle pieces)

[@mandycharlton4404]

When I break up a puzzle I always pull off the border first and put the edges in their own packet. Makes it easier when doing second time around.😄🇿🇦

[@christinedurkin3849]

Same here! Always pleased when I get a puzzle from a swap with sorted edges. :)

[@marysharp6366]

I do the same thing regards from New Zealand

[@emilytinder1556]

I physically cringed around 8:15 when you started sorting the blue pieces by shape and returned them to the bottom part of the box... with all the dust still in!! DUMPING IT OUT IS SO SATISFYING! Plus that dust that comes off the pieces is one of my biggest annoyances in life. Makes me want to start a new puzzle just to de-dust the box. Is this what being a full-on nerd is like? lol

[@lethiapage4767]

OMG the dust is real I hated that. Nerd alert (me) 🙃 I was like I wonder where she's going to dump the dust because of course she was going to but then did not!!!! I finally was like...DUMP THE DUST!!! (smh she didn't dump it...😳)

[@karenhollis9611]

I dump new puzzles in a large colander and shake the dust off. I also use sided cookie sheets for sorting pieces.

[@auntiedoodles6898]

So funny! I thought the same thing about the dust! Ha ha, it's the little things, isn't it?

[@auntiedoodles6898]

@@karenhollis9611 cookie sheets are a good idea, I've been using coffee filters to sort colors, but the cookie sheets are great for assembly of pieces because the pieces can be stored upside right.

[@suesudoku2031]

We call it puzzle poop. The Friyay girls get together for puzzles every week.

[@sheilacarter4741]

I absolutely love, love puzzles. I have over a hundred saved up to do. They are so expensive so I always look at thrift stores and get them for less than a dollar and when I'm finished with them I donate them back to the thrift stores. Another idea is trading them with the puzzles my son-in-law has. Before I donate them I put my initial up and the corner of the box so I won't ever by the same puzzles twice. My son-in-law and daughter are always getting me puzzles from the thrift stores and so then they know if they see my initial in the upper corner, that means I already made that one. You are correct about saying time flies when you're doing puzzles. Sometimes I have a hard time stopping when I need to go to bed!! I have been known to stay up all night long doing my puzzles. I just grabbed a cup of coffee, sit down and turn on some music and do my puzzles. I never, ever get tired of doing puzzles. The only ones I do not like are ones with a whole lot of sky or a whole lot of bushes and trees. Those are boring to me. I never saw a video about doing puzzles before. So nice.

[@jamesbizs]

That really sounds like something that would produce a ton of anxiety. I see constant amazon reviews of NEW puzzles missing pieces,. I can't imagine thrift store ones...

[@murroncook5648]

Do they have all the pieces

[@martajanik6]

I buy thrift stores puzzles and they never miss a piece. Lately I’m finding puzzles with a sign of the previous owner about how long it took to put together. Sometimes there are two dates meaning he/she did it multiple times. One time the person wrote: “one missing”. Then under neath: “never mind, they are all in”. I loved the care what that person put into the puzzles 🧩

[@collette2908]

I get most of my puzzles at thrift stores and garage sales, also. I hear you how time flies, and struggle to discipline myself to get to bed. My body can't handle staying up late (or all night) like I used to! However, I do find that it is so much more enjoyable to work them when I am wide awake and the sun is shining! So I am training myself to work them in the morning instead of at night!

[@gregfisher216]

I want to thank you for publishing this video. I have been working on a puzzle for two days . It has an exercise in frustration and disappointment. The puzzle is only 500 pieces. The puzzle is an abstract of a Pit bull . The colors are very vibrant and the scheme of colors is quite complicated. I have sat at the puzzle for over an hour at a time trying to match the pieces. Now I saw your video and the method of how you sort the pieces and construct mini puzzles within the larger puzzle is a game changer for me! My mother loved to put together puzzles. She had a card table in her den and would sit and put her puzzles together till her eye site got bad as she had macular degeneration. When she passed away , we went through her things and a storage building in her backyard, she must have had 500 puzzles stacked on shelves. The puzzle I am working on ,I do in her honor.

[@genevievearchbaker8604]

I have small plastic sorting boxes, so when I sort the pieces I sort in edges and middle pieces and at the same time I sort on color. I am good at sorting because of my autism

[@chantelduarte5210]

I have two wonderful boys with autism , I wish they liked doing puzzles with me . They are more into video games , lol

[@genevievearchbaker8604]

@@chantelduarte5210 video games are also nice

[@jasoncormier4434]

Great video of puzzle pieces.

[@balgrantango460]

I also have a lot of nick names for pieces…in-ies, out-ies, onezees, twozees, threezees and the full monty :) 4 outies!

[@alyceclover]

I call one shape "dancer", some are regulars or standard pieces (2 round, 2 innies) ~ a friend and I were doing a puzzle; I said I am looking for a circle, she called it a square ~ the curved or rounded edge, needed for that spot.

[@janetfrisby9721]

I call some pokies double pokies stars

[@danalight1879]

Haha! Great idea!

[@foureyes1700]

I categorise them in my head by shape - blades, knobs, holes, shoulders, waists etc. For large areas like skies, I then sort the pieces into those with blades and non-blades.

[@juliakernitz]

My partner and I call them spades, alien helmet, alien house, double nubber, tall H with a skinny shoulder...

[@kenzievancity9959]

me and my mom sort out the colours at the same time that we sort out the edge pieces and flip them over, so its all done in one go. then we do the border. we then grab piles of the like colours and do sections. When there gets fewer pieces we organize piles into there puzzle shapes to make it easy to place them.

[@sylviariggs8928]

I do them like Kenzie V.

[@aaronstark5060]

That’s what I tend to do except I don’t flip them over. I tend to do larger 3,000+ pieces and for a puzzle that size, trying to do that would be a logistical nightmare.

[@nisrinarnouk4373]

I do that too. I would have sorted those red amd yellow pieces right away!

[@chantelduarte5210]

I do the same thing :)

[@abbyrudy167]

I do this too. I always do it with my 500 piece puzzles it takes less time and i've done them 10 times so I know how to sort them. I've been getting lazy with my 1000 piece puzzles though. The past few days I've just been digging around in the box which is more work overall but the thought of spending an hour sorting sometimes doesn't feel worth it.

[@wismeiry31]

I never would have thought that I'd get so excited for a video about puzzles

[@KarenPuzzles]

Puzzles are so fun! Thank you for watching!

[@ltvanburen8555]

My cousin taught me to initial and date the back of last piece before you put it in. If you are working on a puzzle with others, everyone can initial and date their last piece. Then, when you rework a puzzle, or pass it on, the puzzler comes across the piece(s) marked when it was last put together. My favorite puzzle ever is Verticalville. My mom bought it in the 1980’s when my grandma lived with us and we all put it together. Such a fun puzzle. I am 56, now, and I wish we had known then to initial and date the last pieces because then I would have notations on the pieces from all the family that worked in back then and again over the years. Best wishes. Puzzle Pieces!

[@babyvlad007]

I know it's been three years since you left this comment, but your suggestion to initial the last piece was wonderful and much appreciated! Thanks!

[@athenabutterfly7]

“All I need to be happy is a good puzzle and a good podcast.” Omg I think you are my long lost twin! Lol literally my 2 favorite things to do to pass time!! And when I’m not at home to work on a puzzle, I do a puzzle app while I listen to podcasts 😊

[@KarenPuzzles]

Twinsies!

[@collette2908]

Triplets here!

[@johnsmith7303]

I've been working on the same 2000 piece puzzle for the past month 😂 it's one of the most difficult challenges I've had to keep up with, and it has taken over the entire table. But when I have company, it's extremely satisfying to have someone comment on the progress made.

[@aykhey744]

I recommend using as much boxes as needed to have the pieces all laying “alone“ (not overlapping). Normally thats 4-5 top boxes from other puzzles or board games and it makes ist very easy to see all parts of the pieces. I hate going through overlapping pieces, turning some of them accidently while searching. Have a great day :)

[@u54gp24]

Puzzle pieces…I am 78 years old and just bought my first puzzle. Watching Eric Dowdle of the Piece Maker on the Magnolia channel got me interested in puzzles. Your video has been so helpful, I can’t wait to start the process.

[@spandanak8724]

It was really good to see a person enjoy doing jigsaw puzzle pieces so much as I do.

[@devonmiddleton709]

What I recommend better than her technuiqe if putting all the pieces in 1 box is getting some trays and putting all the pieces layed out (not stacked) do you can see every individual piece (you can sort them by colour or pattern if you like) and and then if you need a certain piece it makes it A LOT easier.

[@addictedstamper52]

Devon Middleton i basically do this. I have 4 “puzzle bowls” I bought at a store, green, pink, blue & dark brown. Brown is for the edges. I grab handfuls of pieces, turn them to the backside because I think this makes the edges stand out more. This works great for me and I can find all the edges quickly....hardly ever miss a piece with this method.

[@susanmetz9892]

I use cookie sheets and do the same thing you do. Plus, by using my cookie sheets, I don’t bake cookies at that time. Which is healthy....since I’m sitting on my backside doing a puzzle.

[@alyceclover]

I have box lids or cardboard that came from cases of things (cans, usually) and sometimes use cookie sheets when the boxes are not enough. It is much faster if all pieces are laid flat at the initial set-up, then rooting through layers of pieces. I sometimes will sort colors into the various lids as I flip pieces. I usually only sort by shape when I get towards the end ~ like doing sky.

[@judi4119]

I use paper plates to sort pieces.

[@AntheanCeilliers]

Thank you for these videos! I stumbled upon them when I was looking for something soothing to watch before bed during a stressful time but they since inspired me to pick up puzzles again after about twenty years away. I'm now doing puzzles my late grandparents left me and it feels like such a sweet, tangible connection to them. Thanks!

[@annettestark7958]

I love doing puzzles but I’m slow! My granddaughter comes over and pretty much finishes it in a few hours. Great fun and great memories.

[@kimberly9876]

I work on my puzzles to help manage my anxiety. I only work on them when I feel an anxiety attack coming on. Sometimes it takes me a couple of months to do one and sometimes I can get one done in a few days.

[@jahmocha9542]

Sometimes, if a puzzle has a detailed image and half of it is done already, I'll take a single piece and only look at the box to figure out where it goes. Like, matching up the image on the piece with the image on the box. It can be a nice visual challenge!

[@1sonnenkind]

That's exactly how I do puzzles. This goes so far that I only buy puzzles that are very detailed.

[@collette2908]

I often do this. My husband noticed it, and challenged me to do a puzzle (together with him) without looking at the picture! It was an interesting challenge! Only 500 large pieces, so not too difficult. He hid the box to keep me from cheating! Only it was frustrating because it must have been a cheap painting and the sun was not shining from the same direction on everything, so we had a major portion turned around! Getting rid of that puzzle! Now I do see what I can do without looking at the picture, and it is a bit freeing! I still do, of course, for certain details!

[@karenkavett]

This is the video where I'm sharing all my puzzling secrets! I hope this helps if you're struggling with a puzzle!

[@shankaranarayanan6929]

It was so logically thought out and presented. And I draw the outline on pencil and put all 4 corners and then the complete edge. Rest is all what we figure out eventually...

[@divahc1]

We have a puzzle tray which comes with 4 pull-out sorting trays and a lid to cover the puzzle for transporting. Ours is made of thick cardboard so it's very light, but they are available in timber, also.

[@divahc1]

A small 1 000 piece.. ha ha ha we just did a 1 000 piece Christmas jigsaw over the course of a few weeks. In our defence, it has a lot going on in the picture. We took photos before taking it apart.

[@larryosborn122]

Karen If you were really into puzzles you would be demonstrating puzzle boards it is an easy way to save you 85% on time. A puzzle board lets you only look at the one shape you need. On large puzzles, they are huge time savers. I started them years ago and they worked so well I thought I should see about selling them but they are too easy and cheap to make I use 1/4" picture boards $1 at the dollar store and one magic marker.

[@divahc1]

@@larryosborn122 are you talking about treasure to sort by shape? Sorry, I'm not familiar with these type of puzzle boards.

[@itsamazing101]

Puzzle pieces, thank you so much for taking us through the whole process of solving puzzles. It was so fun to listen to you and watch the puzzle get solved at the same time. I admire your patience

[@arleendillon6813]

love puzzles ever since I was a child my father introduced us to it I've just finished a 4000 pieces it took me about six years due to time and not getting enough time and plus I have little siblings running back and forth my nephews and my nieces due to the covid-19 I finish this puzzle and I'm so proud of myself although I am missing 6 pieces what I love about puzzles is the different shapes & the challenge from 1000 pieces up. keep on building😍

[@casswms]

"PUZZLE PIECES" I started doing puzzles as a little girl and it was a family activity. I just recently started doing them again with my 94 yr old mother. You had a couple of new good tips for me, but most of your process was similar to our process. Thank you for sharing.

[@jkoehler4027]

Cass W

[@DeeDee98765]

Do you display your completed puzzles or box them again?

[@casswms]

@@DeeDee98765 I ended up using MOD PODGE and hanging my puzzle.

[@blueponyfarm1962]

I've been an avid puzzle fan for decades. Like you, I do an initial sort of edge and interior pieces, but in addition to layering interior pieces in a box, I also pull out any "odd" bits, especially bright colors that I know will go together, or pieces with text. I try to limit these additional sort groups to 3 or 4 and keep them on the puzzle table with the edge pieces. I try to put these "odd" sections together 1st, slide them to their approximate location (based on the picture on the box). Once the odd bits are together I put the assemble the edge, this avoiding having to lift the pre-assembled sections over the edge. I find that ha this method helps me speed thru the remaining puzzle because I can relate all remaining pieces to how close they are to what's already completed, AND more importantly, I tend to handle remaining pieces less. Glad I'm not the only Uber Sorter out there!

[@proudpanda1362]

I just bought my first puzzle and because of you, now I'm so excited to start it! I love how its (puzzle pieces) looked :)

[@errinwellman1960]

My husband and I do puzzles together. We sort edges and we each pick our first section and do that 3 part sort from the beginning. Saves us a few steps and keeps us from going through all the pieces as many times.

[@janicereese5224]

I also love putting together puzzle pieces, with glorious scenery that you can just escape into. Great hearing how the experts work puzzles. One tip I have is separating the edges and colors all in the first step, each group in a separate tray. If I see shaped patterns I pull those I find out also as I look just to keep from going back through them so much, and then dive in! Thanks so much! Enjoy 😊

[@SassyLadyPanda]

I have a puzzle that I have been working on for the last 22 years. It's a constellation picture so once the constellations/planets were put together all that is left is the black background. I pull it out every few months and spend a few hours working on it and hopefully manage to get a handful of pieces together. Maybe someday I will get this puzzle completed, if I do you better believe that I will be gluing that sucker together so it will never come apart again.

[@TheAmymeowcat]

Dang! No wonder it's taken you so long! I can only imagine how hard that must be. More power to you! You will finish it someday!

[@SassyLadyPanda]

@lola holic Hi the puzzle is called Fantasia Forever and it has 1000 pieces

[@susanmetz9892]

Where do you store a partially finished puzzle for 22 years? Does that drive your family nutty?

[@emilynorman6074]

The level of satisfaction when that's completed will be amazing

[@TheLio666]

Karen R 20 years ? To fix a 1000 pieces puzzle?

[@katekeeler385]

PUZZLE PIECES. Thanks so much for a great video. I’ve been doing 300- and 500-piece puzzles since the pandemic started. With your tips, I’m now excited to work on my first 1000-piece puzzle. 🙂

[@MsPhxRising]

Sooooo agree when it comes to “recycling” puzzles! I keep the box- break up when complete & put with my donations for others to enjoy! Great tips! 👍🏾 Thank you! 🙏🏾

[@dardan1984]

When going through a new box of a puzzle, I like to find all the outside pieces. I do the same thing as you (going through them 1 by 1) but I normally have a bunch of bowls out so I can sort the colors at the same time. This saves me time in the end. I have never placed my pieces face up but I see how that could be beneficial. Also, I have never thought about placing all the outside pieces the same direction. That seems to make everything easier to see. Ok going to finish watching, I’m only at the pink section 😉 PUZZLE PIECES 🧩 I haven’t done an actual puzzle in so long (I have an app for puzzles) but this video makes me want to do them again. I love how you divided the pieces by shape towards the end. I have never done that but I will definitely be doing that, if/when I do another puzzle. My grandma 👵 and I use to do puzzles every time I went to visit her, that was our thing. Maybe I can keep her spirit alive by doing them again. Also, watching you has made me want to do a puzzle just to hold the actual pieces, I miss that

[@edelschilling3529]

Darsee f

[@dardan1984]

Edel Schilling ???

[@auntiedoodles6898]

I like to separate the pieces all at the same time. Edge and colors. I used to use plain white paper plates, but now I use coffee filters. What's nice about using the filters is being able to put them back in the box because the filters are so flexible. I don't worry about getting them exactly right, because as you find the more obvious patterns first, things generally work themselves out fairly quickly.

[@dardan1984]

Robin McWilliams that is a great idea, I’ll have to try that next time I do a puzzle.

[@tiffanyweber3949]

I'm also a puzzle fanatic and I love watching your videos. Your positive energy and love for puzzles is mesmerizing! Thank you for being you!!!

[@azgunner]

Wow your positive vibes and passion for puzzles is contagious! You’re an awesome person and thank you for the tips on doing a puzzle quickly.

[@nurseb430gorham8]

"Don't say mean things." Lol Bless your heart.

[@susanmetz9892]

Instead of using a second puzzle box for sorting edges from inside pieces, I use a cookie sheet for the inside pieces. It gives you more room to view the pieces. I will often use a second sheet as well. This eliminates the chances of the unused puzzle from being accidentally being spilled .onto the floor

[@1TalldrinkH2O]

Thank you for sharing. Your advise will be helpful! After completing the borders I criss cross through the puzzle by following the lines such as edges of trees or the borders of a mountain, which are easier, and then the others parts will fall into place with less searching.

[@jurds216]

At 9:45 you say you can’t puzzle with other ppl and I’m watching this video after watching your World Puzzle Championship video where your team came in 2nd place and your pair came in 10th! You’ve grown so much as a puzzler!!

[@StGordo61]

Thanks for the tip Karen. My daughter has been doing a fuzzy panda in snow puzzle for over a week, but this will now give her a strategy to help her. Loved how you used the PUZZLE PIECES and looking forward to seeing her get her current one solved!

[@EdrHf23]

Amazing video! im starting now a 3000 pieces Ravensburger puzzle (Provence) to frame it and put it on my kitchen, and very anxious to see how it looks :D. Cheers from Argentina!

[@merrilllinton1735]

Puzzle Pieces! Thanks for your video! I’m 70 years old and will be doing my FIRST jigsaw puzzle, starting today. It’s 750 pcs and I found your video, which has helped me come up with a plan. Would have never known had to start without your video. Thank you!

[@kathleenholt6008]

Did you ever finish your puzzle? I’m 69 and I bought and finished my first puzzle ever!

[@camfan54lisa]

I just started doing puzzles after my kid left all his unfinished 'puzzle pieces' on the table to a horrible, cheap, ill fitting, mostly beige dinosaur puzzle on the coffee table! I really enjoy you and the videos are so satisfying! Thanks!

[@georgepapamichail1006]

Ok Karen, i just bought my first puzzle ( last one i did, was with my father when i was 10 ) and now that i am a father, i felt like i could do the same for my son......of course i could be wrong.....but i'll try.

[@myartprocess6003]

PUZZLE PIECES: This was so satisfying to watch! Thank you, Karen! I just bought a 1K piece puzzle at the 99 cent store and it is gorgeous! Can't wait to get on with it!!!! So inspiring!

[@myartprocess6003]

Oh my Gosh, you guys! I should have listened to Karen! My baby African Grey made off and chewed up a piece of my 99 cent store puzzle. Moral of the story, no matter what you do, guard your puzzle!!!LOL! Love watching you, Karen! Great tips! Just watch out for Eddie! (The Grey!) Because puzzles are what little animals find most intriguing! LOL!!!!

[@mollydooka17]

Thanks Karen, I'm 70 in 3 months, and have just completed my first ever 1000-piece puzzle with the help of my partner, she's 68. Haven't done a puzzle since I was a kid, but I rescued an Educa Superman puzzle out of my nephew's junk pick-up, with the intention of gifting it, then decided to do it to check whether all pieces were there!! It took us hours and hours, I should have watched your video first! The result: only 1 piece missing, 3 damaged by nephew's dog (2 pieces might be ok, 1 needs to be replaced), and 1 piece with a bit of colour missing, easily repairable. Now trying to make new pieces with polymer clay, so that I can pass it on...😍

[@gailcarsten7903]

Puzzle pieces Thanks for all the great tips. I watched another of your strategy videos and got a large piece of foam core to work the puzzle on like you do. I found a white plastic storage bin lid with sloping sides so the pieces won't slide off and it's wonderful. And I use large pieces of cardboard to sort the pieces as well. I have to refer to the box cover and love when it includes a poster of the puzzle. I'm not that good so it really helps me. I definitely don't do 1000 piece puzzles. I like to work a puzzle a few hours every day so I'm in no hurry to finish it. But I like to have another one waiting to be done. To. me, it's like reading a book--read a little every day and have the next book ready. Love my new hobby!

[@balgrantango460]

I do exactly the same thing BRILLIANT! and indeed, it's getting to know the pieces while sorting…the best part for the brain!

[@SarahSmith-le5ei]

I do my Jigsawpuzzle on a jigsaw roll as I do them when I'm on holiday in an evening when I am staying in a holiday cottage. My favourite is of Tobermoray in Scotland made by Gibson s puzzles a UK company. It has 1000 jigsaw pieces in it. Thanks for great video☺

[@turcanolesea29]

Thank you for your tips and tricks on how to tackle the puzzle 🧩. Yesterday I started putting together 1000 piece one and it has been quite a headache for me, but now I can start doing it better thanks to you 🤗

[@Hellnogizmo]

This is tried and true stuff! I absolutely LOVE doing puzzles! My mother and I have done them together since I was little and I still have a lot of them. (Glued together) I thought her and I were the only crazy/OCD people that laid EVERY piece out perfectly. (And ALWAYS do the edge first!) ;)

[@pegatheetoo1437]

I enjoy doing them with my daughter but she doesn't enjoy keeping the pieces in order. So, I do that and end up spending a lot of my puzzling time keeping up with that. But I need to have them in order & I just enjoy our time together so I don't mind. Lol

[@bb9789]

Puzzle pieces!! So awesome I did exactly how you did it (90% at least) and felt just how you felt, and the best part, dismantling it at the end!!! You are humorous too!!

[@y.m.k.]

This was almost as fun to watch as doing a puzzle myself! Hahaha did not expect that. I have a similar approach, except I don’t make sure every piece is face up while in the box. For big puzzles we have a couple of servings trays that are for puzzle purposes only and we sort into those pretty early on. Mostly just when we come across them. So I would sort all the blue pieces onto a tray so that they’re not clogging the other pieces. I really like using trays, since ours are all the same ones they stack easily even with one or two layers of pieces in them which means we can have a thin layer of pieces that takes up 5 trays on the table taking up the surface area of only a single tray.

[@rileyparker9374]

Thank you for the puzzle pieces video. I did puzzles when I was 11 and had polio. All turned out well for me. Now 70, years later I am getting back to puzzling. Yep, I am 81 years old. Thank you so much for your blog.

[@PurpleFrogStitches]

Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary. Just come across your channel and love your how to do a puzzle. Whilst watching I had my 6 year old daughter turn the “puzzle pieces “ over to make it easier to put my jigsaw together.

[@dawnerskin807]

I love doing puzzles and there are times that I will actually save the finished puzzle by using clear sticky shelf paper (instead of Hodge Podge or puzzle glue that will warp the pieces) and hang them up. I, like you, sort out the edges from the insides to get started but I just put a handful at a time on the table and sort them out like you would the different types of change to roll. As far as what kind of puzzles (ie.. pictures), I like cityscapes, nature, and just about anything to do with animals and ocean scenes. Thank you for your video, it was fun to watch. Happy Puzzling!!

[@TheAmymeowcat]

Just happened to be recommended your video. I used to be an avid puzzler, but I have a bad back now and hunching over the piece yo do a puzzle is tough as I have no table to put them on and have to do them in bed. Also keeping the "puzzle pieces" from sliding everywhere is a pain. My fave puzzle were always the Schim Schimmel ones that were popular in the 90's. At one point I had my bedroom walls decorated with all his big cat puzzles I finished and glued. Which it made me catch my breath when you undid your puzzle! I understand why, you said you like to do them multiple times. But for me it's once and done. I have a flat "poster keeper" that was my moms when she was teaching that I keep all my glued puzzles in to keep them safe. Someday they will adorn my walls again. But for now I only have 3 small ones up. I really enjoyed your video and am off to watch more. I can live vicariously through you to enjoy puzzles, so I thank you!

[@lindarowley749]

Some great tips and a company to explore. I have a puzzle system from Bits and Pieces that has 4 big trays that fit inside. I sort the edges onto the big tray and then lay out all the other pcs on the trays - sometimes resorting to cookie sheets - lol. Then everything is laid out and ready to go. I really enjoy watching your videos. I think it wonderful that so many people still enjoy puzzles, coloring, crafts, and other totally low tech stuff. We need to get out minds and hands working together. Keep up the good work.

[@dorisyingling5449]

I thoroughly enjoyed your video- puzzle pieces. I have been a fan of puzzles for my whole life and I’m 86. You taught me some new things that will help me make my puzzle enjoyment greater. Thank you.

[@BedtimeBookworm]

I have a very similar puzzling process! I can’t wait until I move into my new space in a couple months because I will actually have the space to do puzzles again. Puzzle pieces!

[@hollywaddell6727]

Puzzle pieces! This was a unique video and I picked up a few new tips. Countless hours were spent as a family doing puzzles together in our ranch home before television. Many undisturbed hours for chatting and building that strong family bond. Mom passed away in August at the age of 102, so I had lots of nostalgic pangs reading through some of the similar comments. I have saved a few completed puzzles by painting them with a product similar to Mod Podge that is promoted for puzzle preservation. I then mounted them on sturdy cardboard but they still tend to warp a little. Mounting on a thin board such as underlayment flooring board would probably be better.

[@sallydowell2524]

OMGoodness! I love this video so much! *Puzzle pieces* I love doing puzzles with family and friends. We would start by looking at the puzzle and agreeing on a plan of attack. Assuming we had 4 people we would probably decide to do our initial sort this way: slide edge pieces to person #1, slide warm colors to person #2, cool colors to #3, neutrals to #4. Save light blue background for later, Whoever finished their cranes first starts sorting the mass of blue by shade (light blues, darker blues, middle blues) then by shape. You definitely have to be puzzling with people who understand the basic shapes: innies, outties, pieces with spade feet...etc... The ones you call "triangle," I call pagodas. The innie looks like the door of the pagoda and the outties are the roof. lol

[@the1holycrusader962]

Great video. Love how you thoroughly explain your technique(s). The way I like to do my puzzles is by starting with the outside frame and then do the next frame and then connect puzzle pieces that make character whole and connect from there. I mix 2 techniques together that I have learned throughout the years to make a faster process.

[@Diane4mail]

So many puzzle pieces! Loved the video! I love to do puzzles. I keep them on a poster frame and slide it under my couch where it stays safe until the next time I get to it. I love to do a puzzle in the evening when I watch TV.

[@christophermosser3590]

I know I’m late to this video, but thanks for your fun videos and expert advice on puzzle pieces and the passion you have for them. My favorite jigsaw puzzle I’ve ever done is one with the map of Middle Earth.

[@mjr304608]

I did my first ever puzzle during the COVID19 period when I had to stay at home from work . I bought a 1000 piece puzzle and I was very surprised and happy that I enjoyed the process and was able to finish it. I live in a small apartment so randomly decided to check KZbin for tips and came across your video! Thanks for sharing all the tricks and how you organize the puzzle piece :) :)

[@RK-yu6nz]

Several years ago we purchased a dozen+ sheet pans from the Dollar Tree on which to sort pieces. We use one for edges and then sort remaining pieces, face up, on the other pans. This way you are able to see the face of each piece at a glance. Be sure to have extra pans so you can pull out pieces to work on a given area. Occasionally as we work through the puzzle we merge the pans. When we are done working we simply stack the pans. Takes up a lot less space.

[@brandoni.fernandez6059]

25:42 that physically hurt me. Lol six hours of work is a lot for me😂

[@musico4609]

Not going even lie, my heart sank seeing that

[@lg-vw7hz]

I also do all the tips that you mention in my first puzzle then after im done with it..i will take apart again and again ....my mother always scold and look stress..🤣then i decide to glue them..i enjoy your video and decide that i will buy another one

[@lisavanderwyst6153]

Thanks Karen! I loved seeing the excitement you had for puzzles come through on your video. I learned about how to keep my puzzles in process better organized thanks to you. When I'm done with a puzzle I just started taking off the edge pieces & placing them in a zip lock bag for next time... so that part of the sorting is already done for me!

[@pegatheetoo1437]

Great idea! Just took apart a puzzle yesterday ... darn! But next time, I'm definitely doing separate baggies. (I already put the pieces in baggies, you'd think I would have thought of that. Lol!) Thanks!

[@phantommangagirl]

I impulse bought a 1000 piece puzzle and it’s coming today. I’ve never done a jigsaw puzzle in my life. I’m gonna take your tips to heart. Wish me luck!

[@GodisAgapelove4172]

I just started doing puzzles they are good for the mind. ❤

[@alexblaze8878]

You’ve got to be the only person I’ve ever discovered that has the same OCD issues with puzzles that I do (don’t like when other people help and move pieces that you’ve put in a particular place, your insistence on doing the edge pieces first, your organization of the various types of pieces, etc) AND get so much pure joy out of doing them as I do. Well done video! Big tip! If you want to mount your puzzle, skip the various puzzle glues and take your puzzle to a frame shop and have them Dry Mount it. The process involves putting the puzzle in a press that’s slightly heated and bonding the entire puzzle to a special white cardboard that has adhesive impregnated into the surface. They usually only charge a few dollars (the process only takes about 3 minutes and is easy for them to do) and your puzzle will be permanently bonded and ready for framing. It works much better than any glue. Just saw my first video of yours a few hours ago. Subscribed! Key phrase: Puzzle pieces.

[@collette2908]

I really appreciate this tip! I don't normally frame my puzzles, but I do currently have two that I want to frame. I got to this page after watching how to glue a puzzle, so I really like the idea of dry mounting them!

[@alexblaze8878]

@@collette2908 yeah Hobby Lobby and Michael’s both do them. The price is pretty reasonable. I’ve had them do a 5000-piece puzzle before and it came about great.

[@MoveYourMind2]

Love it! I so identify with how fun and how the day goes by! Listening to something while doing a puzzle = the best!

[@fallingstars3572]

I love this video, i didn't knew some of these tips. Thanks! I'm currently working on "a starry night" puzzle by Van Gogh, 1000 pieces.. it's kind of complicated, but videos like this make me want to do more! I always take a picture of the puzzle before I start to work and after I stop, so I can see how much I've worked and the improvement! I usually work on a puzzle when I come back from school..it's so relaxing, and I wish more people did this!

[@kathytrahan7775]

I did 8 Thomas Kinkade puzzles, all with 1000 "puzzle pieces". I glued them together and I rotate four of them for the seasons (Winter and then Spring Summer, Fall) and I hang them on the wall in the stairwell. I have a Thomas Kinkade gallery very cheap! :-)

[@debbieklapmeier2505]

puzzle pieces...you're such a sweet gal who a genuine love for puzzling. My middle grandson who is 9 and I started putting puzzles together. We're going on #3. I'm 62 and have always been intimidated by puzzles; but, now love them. It's an addicting...healthy habit! It our little thing we thoroughly enjoy doing together. While my husband watches t.v...I work on the puzzle. Very relaxing :) Thank you for the tips!

[@lucaskovacs7315]

Puzzle pieces… awesome tips. Am tackling a difficult 500 piece for my first time, and it’s hard - a lot monotonous colours, but I’ve realised how I LOVE this for some reason(s). Thank you

[@stphnwd8]

Thank you Karen for the tips. I'm a late starter in puzzling but it is really enjoyable and keeping me busy these days.

[@leepetersonbiz]

Puzzle Pieces: While first sorting through the pieces, besides pulling out the side pieces, I put like colors or combination of colors in separate piles, and then put them in separate labeled containers (I use glass jars). That way, I am not sorting through so many pieces at once. For example, right now I am doing a puzzle with two multi-colored parrots sitting on a birch tree with some green leaves and with an aqua blue sky behind them. My jars are: birds/multi colors, blue, blue w/green, green, green w/blue, green w/aqua, aqua w/green, aqua w/grey. I work with one jar at a time. I subdivide each jar in to the like shapes in rows as you did (3 ins, 1 out, etc.). Then I put as many pieces from that jar together as I can. The remaining pieces of each jar that I can't fit into that section of the puzzle go back into that same color scheme jar. Then I go to the next jar, etc., etc. At the very last, I pull out the remaining pieces, one jar at a time, that didn't fit the first time and find where they go. I know that this sounds obsessive/compulsive, but working with smaller quantities of the pieces of the puzzle one jar (color group) at a time, really helps me a lot!

[@zoemarie9778]

Love the glass jar idea!

[@erikanickel9274]

I do the same thing but use plates or stackable trays

[@joysevilla6859]

Yess!! I used your tricks and my grandparents are complimenting me noww!! 😁😄

[@judithkrass95]

It is so nice to see how passionate you are about this! Keep having fun girl ❤

[@travisweaver4854]

I was given a task for work to put together a 1000 piece puzzle, with the caveat that I can only work on it 30 minutes a week. This is to help my much needed time management skills as I push far too hard and anything incomplete drives me absolutely crazy. So naturally, I go searching for the quickest way to accomplish this feat and I come upon this gem. It is so wonderful, especially now with everything going on in the world, to see someone so genuine and happy about their favorite past time. Karen, keep being your unique and happy self because man, it brightened my day a little and I didn't even think something as simple as a puzzle tutorial ever could do that.

[@mickeyp1090]

I bought a puzzle kit that has four big trays. As I do the initial sort, in addition to separating all the edge pieces, I sort all the inside pieces by color onto the four trays. I also put the edge pieces together as I am sorting. After the edge is finished, I can do further sorting of the pieces on each tray. Although this method takes longer for the initial sorting, it saves so much time later.

[@debbiegallett1125]

My mom and sister both have those big trays. We wouldn't do a puzzle any other way. We also do a puzzle on a cardboard tray so we can move it.

[@phyllismarony8948]

Hi, I used to love doing puzzles. Sadly as a senior citizen I don't have the patience any more. But I did like your video. Enjoyable. Thanks

[@pinkrose5796]

Phyllis Marony They have puzzles for seniors that have large pieces and anywhere from 12 to 300 or so pieces:) type in " puzzles for seniors" on your phone or computer:)

[@sharonbelieves]

I like the tip of putting together the middle parts of the puzzle first. I've always been one to just work the from the ends after setting up the edges and had thought of building middle parts as "cheating". Thanks for helping me to see a better way. That looks like a cool puzzle with interesting puzzle pieces. I'm just getting started with puzzles again after many many many years

[@Pocheteman82]

I´m super resonating with all you say about doing puzzles alone! I just started in this puzzle world, my first puzzle ever was 3 weeks ago and I only did 3 puzzles of a thousand PUZZLE PIECES each until now, but already I´m identifying myself with everything you say and do!! LOL Love your vídeos!!!