IF YOU ARE A JIGSAW puzzle enthusiast, then you are a “dissectologist.” Who knew a name existed for those who love sorting and assembling jigsaw puzzle pieces into completed puzzles? Not me. While I appreciate learning a new word, I don’t engage in this primarily winter pastime. But many Minnesotans do.
Speed puzzling competitions have exploded in popularity, including right here in the southern part of our state. From libraries to breweries to community events and beyond, jigsaw puzzle enthusiasts gather and compete to finish their puzzles first. This week the Elysian Public Library hosted a Jigsaw Puzzle Derby. The Owatonna library held a competition in January. The St. Paul Winter Carnival did likewise.
More competitions are planned throughout our region, because, well, we still have plenty of winter remaining. On February 10, Creekside Community Center in Bloomington is holding a Family Jigsaw Puzzle Competition. Angry Inch Brewing in Lakeville hosts a Jigsaw Puzzle Contest on March 6, Mankato Brewery on March 17 and Surly Brewing in Minneapolis on March 27. And at the Historic Chateau Theatre in Rochester, the venue hosts a Downtown Puzzle Contest on March 9. And well to the north, the St. Louis County Depot is the site of the Duluth Jigsaw Puzzle Contest April 19-20. I expect many other places in Minnesota hold jigsaw puzzle contests. One need only search for those events online.
A Facebook group, Minnesota Jigsaw Puzzle Association Puzzling Group, even exists for Minnesotans who are die-hard jigsaw puzzle enthusiasts. I have more than a few in-laws on my husband’s side who love putting puzzles together so much so that last summer a puzzle exchange was part of the annual Helbling family reunion. Bring a puzzle or three and take home a puzzle or three. It was an idea enthusiastically embraced.
Right now, two card tables sit in our living room where Randy is assembling a “Minnesota Spirit” jigsaw puzzle designed by Minneapolis artist Nancy Patrick Carney. The 1,000-piece puzzle features all things Minnesotan—from University of Minnesota mascot Goldy Gopher to the Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth to Red Wing boots, the Mayo Clinic, Jeffers petroglyphs, SPAM luncheon meat, Laura Ingalls Wilder, birthplace of the Mississippi River, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, and so much more. Each area of our state is well-represented in puzzle art.
But “Minnesota Spirit,” along with other puzzles created by Maynard’s LLC in Minneapolis, is not your ordinary jigsaw puzzles. Many are Something’s Amiss!® PuzzleTwist® puzzles, meaning the completed puzzle will not look the same as the puzzle featured on the box cover. In “Minnesota Spirit,” there are 56 differences ranging from colors to locations within the puzzle to added art. These twists take jigsaw puzzles to the next level for those who really want to be challenged.
The list of Minnesota (and other) jigsaw puzzles by Maynard’s is lengthy, covering topics like Minnesota state parks, landmarks and much more. There’s “MinneSNOWta” and “You Betcha!” and “Minnesota State Fair,” for example.
Now, what makes someone love assembling jigsaw puzzles (like Randy, our eldest daughter, many of my in-laws and my grandkids)? What makes folks compete in speed puzzling? The challenge? The sense of accomplishment? Entertainment? Perhaps in the depths of winter, it’s simply a way to pass the time indoors. Only a true “dissectologist” can answer those questions. And I am not one. I am only a puzzler of words.
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TELL ME: Are you a dissectologist? If you like putting puzzles together, why do you enjoy this pastime? Have you competed in speed puzzling?
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
When I was growing up it was fun and enjoyable and the connection to sit back and converse while working on a puzzle. I have noticed this trend too. The trivia, bingo, puzzles, even karaoke and roller skating is back big time, etc. It is a way to get out and reconnect with family, friends, people in general, etc. again. I also work on puzzles or coloring on my phone to just check out and find some mindfulness throughout my day with the go go go crazy busyness. You would love my mother because she has completed puzzles hanging on her walls – love that! Happy Puzzling – Happy Day – ENJOY
You’re right. Puzzling is a way to connect with others, or to escape if you’re doing a puzzle solo. I’ve helped Randy a bit with the Minnesota puzzle, emphasis on the words “a bit.” A dissectologist I am not. Good for you and your mom to work on puzzles.
My friend in Minnesota loves puzzles too. did not know this was a Minnesota thing. kind of fun to think about doing!!!!
This stretches well beyond Minnesota, I think. But puzzles seem to really be in the public realm right now as a competitive activity.
That Minnesota one sounds like scenes I’d like (though the Jeffers Petroglyphs are disappointing in real life, I think) but I’m not interested in one that has twists! I like puzzles but I hadn’t done any in years prior to Lockdown and haven’t done any since. We did three then, I think. And by “we” I mean mostly me! Colin gave me one for Christmas, though, so I need to set up the old card table and make it happen! Lucy might actually help as it’s a picture she likes.
I am with Colin, not into puzzles. I found several pieces on the Minnesota Spirit puzzle Randy is assembling. But my eyes and patience limit my helpfulness. Our Amber loves puzzles. The Minnesota puzzle was her birthday gift from us last year. Have fun puzzling with Lucy.
Puzzle solving and playing bingo is my idea of nothing to do. However, I have been playing the piano since I was 7 years old and that is a great comfort to me.
Oh, Joan, good for you to play piano. I’ve always wanted to play piano. I think it would be extremely comforting. And just plain fun.
Dissectologist… the word sounds like it would describe someone who takes things apart rather than puts them together!
Though I enjoy assembling puzzles, I’ll steer clear of the speed puzzling. For me, this is a leisure activity, not a competition! I also tend to shy away from gimmicks that make jigsaw puzzles more challenging.
I worked one last summer that had a holographic image. The finished product was kind of neat, but putting it together was far too much effort! On every piece, the light would bend the image whenever you moved it or if you looked at it from a different angle, which was VERY annoying.
I’ve also seen puzzles where all of the pieces are cut in the exact same shape or ones that have the same image on both the top and bottom of the puzzle. Maddening! There are family members on my wife’s side who do not refer to the picture as a reference when assembling them. I haven’t taken to that practice either.
I understand that some folks relish an extra challenge, but there’s a fine line between enjoyment and aggravation!
Neil, I was hoping I would get a comment from one of you in-laws to help me better understand the draw to doing jigsaw puzzles. So it’s a leisure activity for you. And now I also know what you DON’T like in a puzzle.
I’m not into jigsaw puzzles but have several family members and friends who are. I’ll have to share this with them and see if they’d be interested in speed puzzling. The Minnesota puzzles do sound interesting.
Rose, thank you for sharing my post with the puzzlers in your circle.
I love, love, love doing jigsaw puzzles. I have 3 new ones that were christmas gifts that I’m waiting for a break to work on. glad to know there is a name for my hobby. I love the personal challenge and trying to figure them out. I’ve done some very challenging ones, and like them to be somewhat challenging but not to the point of frustration. I’ve never been in a speed competition, but I love that they exist, though I really enjoy going at my own pace.
Beth, thank you for sharing why you enjoy jigsaw puzzles. Randy finished the Minnesota Spirit puzzle last evening. He got minimal assistance from me with a few pieces also placed by the grandkids.
nice!
Interesting! I have enjoyed puzzles in the past but I would rather work with yarn. My grandma and son both enjoy puzzles so I will have to share that information with them.
I bet your son and grandma would enjoy the puzzles with a twist. You are a pro at using yarn!
I love the process of putting a puzzle together more than actually finishing it so speed puzzling is not something for me.
As long as you enjoy the process, that is the most important part. I just perused your puzzle blog. Interesting to see the variety of puzzles, which are wonderful works of art.
I like jigsaw puzzles…in the wintertime. I was reintroduced to them during covid. I like to put them together at my leisure though.
A lot of people enjoy jigsaw puzzles. Me? Not so much. But I did “help” Randy some with the Minnesota Spirit puzzle. Not a lot. Just some.