I stopped looking at the box a few years ago and found it so fun and challenging. I love it! A friend came over one time and as usual, when I removed all the pieces from the box, I put the box away and he was in disbelief, "But how are we going to know where all the pieces go???" 😝🤣 ❤❤❤

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

It is fun. I think I might try it more often now.

I divide up my larger piece count puzzles (3000 and above) into sections. Mainly because they have to go in separate bags, due to the size of the bags, so I divide them and label the bags. I have only received larger piece counts divided this way. One was a trickster though. A 6000 piece puzzle in two bags, but not divided by section! I love how you have such an open mind to training in different ways to improve. I'm suspect this may be throughout life and not just in speed puzzling.

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

Thank you. I too divide large piece puzzles into two bags. Makes it easier for storing in the box. I try to keep an open mind to puzzling. I feel that if you try something different, you might just learn something new. And yes, I try to keep that perspective in life also. Thanks for sharing.

This is such a great idea! It's also great for casual puzzling too. Sometimes I dont want to do a full 1000 in a full sitting and don't like having pieces out all over. Dividing it up into sections like this would be wonderful for that. I need to work at looking at the image less! I have managed to convince a few of my family members to hop in on puzzling when I go visit...my mum is now fully addicted! Happy Puzzling and see you soon!!

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

Thank you. It's always nice when family or friends join in the fun. Glad to hear your mother is enjoying this with you.

I have never seen a puzzle divided like that!!! Great idea and great way to practice your speed! Also I love those puzzles! Beautiful images. Personally I tend to look at the box a lot in the beginning. I'm just getting to know the puzzle and I dont know where everything goes yet. But as I get into the puzzle I can recognize sections of what needs to go where and I rely less on the box.

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

Thank you.

I'm convinced the best speed puzzlers have photographic memory!

@thepuzzlingcanadian

2 ай бұрын

Excellent memory and reaction time is definitely a key factor for those best speed puzzlers.

Larger count Castorland puzzles come divided by the manufacturer. I recently got a 2000 that had two bags of 1000 each, left half and right. I think it is super smart. If you want to mix, you can. I did the two halves separately and then joined when finished. The pieces are a bit smaller than usual so even the 2000 one was manageable.

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

Yes, I've seen some maufacturers divide up the bags for large piece counts. I like that. It allows the puzzler to decide how to assemble the puzzle.

Well that was certainly an interesting way of doing a puzzle. I've never had a puzzle that came in several bags. The closest is having the outside pieces separate. Doing smaller count puzzles, 250 or less, would achieve the same object of puzzling without looking at the box. I would imagine that whether you look at the box depends on what the image is. Every puzzler does a puzzle in whatever way works for them. Good luck in the competition next month and hopefully we will see a video about it in due course.

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

Thank you. I agree, it depends on the image. If it was a difficult image I am sure I would need the visual to refer to.

I have never gotten a puzzle that's divided into sections, but part of the joy for me is sorting the puzzle so if I come across a puzzle already divided, I would probably dump all the bags and sort them myself. 😂 I have done a bunch of mystery puzzles that do not have a picture to refer to. I like the challenge of that.

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

I only did one mystery puzzle before, it was a Wasgij. I did like the challenge. Thanks for sharing.

Love Val Goldfinch. I'd vote for Gibsons. I often offer to divide up larger puzzles and bag them as my trade partner would like me to. Heye 4 Seasons 2000pc I remember I split up into 4 bags on request.

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the vote. I think that might be the next one.

It is very rare for me to use the image, I like the challenge of working it all out for myself! I look at the image for 5-10 seconds to get a basic idea, then put it away. Happy to use the image if other people are helping and want to use it though.

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

Wow! That is impressive.

I just opened up a 750 piece puzzle that I got from a thrift store and it was in four baggies. I mixed them together. I wish I had seen your video before I started it. I like the idea of not looking at the image on the box, but I don't know how that would work for me as a novice puzzler.

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

I was a little hesitant at first to try it but it wasn't so bad. Definitely more of a challenge when puzzling.

I divide up my larger pieces above 2k, and the smaller when I don't have bigger ziplock bags. I definitely don't look at the picture enough but since I bought the puzzle, I'm already familiar with it. I see an issue for speedpuzzling since you don't know until you open the bag, so I'm trying to look it up more.

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing.

I tend to rely heavily on the image. If I'm doing a repeat on a favourite puzzle, that's when I'll try without the image. I trade puzzles a lot with someone who sorts the edge out into a separate bag. It feels like cheating, somehow, even though it's what I'm likely to do if the pieces are all in one bag. I like the idea of sectioning a larger puzzle, might try that.

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

I've seen puzzlers sort edges into a separate bag. Sometimes I don't mind having those edges pulled out for me. Thanks for sharing.

I watched a video from another puzzler with speed puzzling tips and she said the best practice is with small piece count puzzles for all the reasons you mentioned here. It looks like what you are doing with the divided puzzles is the same idea.

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

Yes, I didn't have any small piece counts on hand and decided this would be the same idea.

Gibsons one deck chair

@thepuzzlingcanadian

2 ай бұрын

Thanks!

I was wondering why were you wearing gloves and your final time was for the puzzle ?

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

I timed each individual section, which was not that great. The gloves are compression gloves that I use sometimes. I get a pain in my thumb muscle when I puzzle too much.

@eagercrafter_9014

3 ай бұрын

I was wondering about the gloves as well. I get pain in my hands as well, do they help? Are they constricting? I'd love more details about those types of gloves.

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

@@eagercrafter_9014 They are not constricting. They are acutally quite comfortable and I don't feel too much pain when I wear them puzzling, so the help a little. I find my pink brace that I've worn in previous videos is a little better but it is more constricting in the movements.

@laregimbal

3 ай бұрын

​@@thepuzzlingcanadianOh sweet! I get that when I crochet. Maybe I should look into getting a pair of those... 🤔

I have never bought a puzzle that has been divided up into separate bags. I think it is a clever idea for bringing in family and friends into the hobby. I did a Charles wysocki 300 piece puzzle without looking at the image. I was not speed puzzling and I did enjoy the experience. It definitely helps you be more aware of finding the right piece and it works a different part of your brain. I vote you do the Gibsons puzzle😊🧩

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing.

A few secondhand puzzles that I've gotten had the edge pieces in a separate bag. If a puzzle is a little more difficult, I'll try to put different sections in separate bags. I'm trying to refrain from looking at the image too much while puzzling. Sometimes it just feels like a habit that's difficult to break. I might try putting the image out of reach and/or upside-down next time. 😊🧩💜

@thepuzzlingcanadian

3 ай бұрын

I agree, it is a habit to look at the image and I too need to put the box out of reach.