Have you ever wondered how fast you can complete a jigsaw puzzle? That's the idea behind speed puzzling: a fun, fast-paced way to challenge yourself (or your friends) to complete a puzzle as quickly as possible. Whether you're just trying to beat your personal best or prepping for a timed competition, puzzling is a great way to add a little adrenaline to your favorite hobby.
What Is Speed Puzzling?
Speed puzzling is all about how quickly you can finish a jigsaw puzzle. Some puzzlers do it just for fun, while others enter competitions and race the clock solo or as part of a team. Most speed puzzling competitions feature 500-piece or 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles, and some competitors can finish them in less than an hour! Even if you're not aiming for a world record, learning to puzzle more efficiently can make the whole experience even more satisfying.
Tips to Increase Your Puzzle Speed
Want to give speed puzzling a try? Here are some ideas to help you get faster at putting puzzles together:
- Pick the correct jigsaw puzzle: Choose a jigsaw puzzle with bold colors, similar shapes, or distinct sections. Busy patterns and lots of similar shades will slow you down.
- Sort your pieces first: Before placing any jigsaw puzzle pieces, separate edges from the middle pieces and group by color or texture. It makes the whole process smoother.
- Start with the edges: Building the frame helps anchor the puzzle and gives you a clearer idea of where everything fits.
- Work in chunks: Focus on one section at a time instead of jumping around the whole puzzle.
- Keep the picture handy: Use the box image as a reference while sorting and building. Some puzzlers also recommend printing extra copies!
Tools That Can Help
Puzzling accessories, such as trays and mats, can make a big difference in how quickly you put together a jigsaw puzzle. Having a dedicated area to puzzling with good lighting will also help create the atmosphere for puzzling; you can mimic the conditions of a speed puzzling event by practicing in a small space. At Bits and Pieces, we offer puzzle accessories perfect for casual puzzlers and speedsters alike, including organizers, sorters, and sturdy boards.
Just Have Fun with It
Speed puzzling is a great way to shake up your regular puzzle routine. Whether you enter a speed puzzling competition or just want to improve your puzzle-solving skills, speed puzzling can add an extra layer of challenge to your puzzling hobby. Ready to time yourself? Check out our collection of 500-piece and 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles, perfect for speed puzzling or a weekend puzzle race with friends.
