Sewing Alphabet Puzzle 
by Jigsaw Puzzle Connections Facebook Group Member Sherri Demos - Puzzling With My Mom Series

We invite you to read Sherri's review on the following jigsaw puzzle.  She enjoys jigsaw puzzling with her Mom and she has reviewed/journaled several that will be available on this website.The following is one of the many in her 'Puzzling With My Mom' Series.  You may like this similar PuzzleTwist puzzle Amazon link

Sewing Alphabet Puzzle Review

Brand: PuzzleTwist

Title: Sewing Alphabet puzzle

Artist: Krista Hamrick

Pieces: 500
Brand: Deico Games

Title: Freda jigsaw puzzle

Artist: Groos Zselyke

Pieces: 1000
Brand: PuzzleTwist

Title: Sewing Alphabet puzzle

Artist: Krista Hamrick

Pieces: 500

Brand: PuzzleTwist

Title: Sewing Alphabet puzzle

Artist: Krista Hamrick

Pieces: 500

PUZZLING WITH MY MOM, March 2022

Woohoo! I drove up to my mom’s house yesterday, so this is our first puzzle that we did for this visit. I brought a number of puzzles with me, and some of them were brand new designs. The first puzzle that I will be reviewing is a PuzzleTwist puzzle where the image of the puzzle is slightly different than the image on the box cover. Because of this, I am going to post my puzzle selections first, keeping any spoilers hidden from plain view.

Mom picked a delightful puzzle to start with, and I was excited to do this one. Every year, there is a Saint Paul (Minnesota) Winter Carnival. I don’t know exactly when the first jigsaw puzzle contest began, but for several years, PuzzleTwist has provided the Official Puzzle for the contest. I have several of these various official puzzles going back to 2016. This puzzle is from the 2022 contest, which the winning team of 4 assembled in 31 minutes 37 seconds. Holy cow! Mom and I are experienced puzzlers, but we would have been way out of our depth if we tried to do this that fast, lol. Plus, we wouldn’t have enjoyed it half as much as we did.

If you are familiar with any of my previous posts about puzzling with my sweet Mom, you would know that she is a wild child when it comes to her puzzling strategy, while I am a lot more methodical, and possibly even rigid, in my puzzling approach. However, I mostly threw caution to the wind and followed Mom’s methodology. Since this puzzle has changes in some of the details like color or design swapping, we never really knew what we were building until we got the letter or word or saying assembled. This is a bunch of small sections representing a different letter of the alphabet, so we knew that they would not have mixed up the alphabet, but I could never tell when I was working on a section that would connect to something that Mom was working on. This necessitated a more fluid puzzling technique. *gulp*

By the time that we got some sections attached, the rest came together fairly quickly. I do enjoy working on puzzles with letters or words on them, and this one was very fun to do. They tried to trick us with changing a single letter to a whole word or a saying shrunk down to a single letter, but we were not fooled, lol. We kept assembling section after section until we had just the border left, and we both worked on that, allowing us to each put in a final piece.

Now, a few things about this puzzle. First of all, it is only 500 pieces, and to be honest, it’s been awhile since I did one of their puzzles, but the pieces were larger than I expected. They have random cut pieces, but the cut shapes are not too extreme or wonky. They have a nice matte finish to them, and they were printed clearly. There was very little puzzle dust, no damaged pieces or delamination issues, and no conjoined or missing pieces. The pieces fit in only one spot, but the fit required careful handling when we tried to pick up completed sections to move into place. This puzzle was so much fun that I would recommend it to anyone who wants to spend time with a charming puzzle that is not too taxing to do.

Puzzle details: PuzzleTwist, Sewing Alphabet by Krista Hamrick, 500 pieces, 2022.

Brand: PuzzleTwist

Title: Sewing Alphabet puzzle

Artist: Krista Hamrick

Pieces: 500


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About: Enhanced Puzzle Enjoyment: The Benefits of EZ Grasp and Extra Large Piece Jigsaw Puzzles for Seniors and Children

Introduction

Jigsaw puzzles are not only a fun and entertaining pastime but also offer numerous cognitive and therapeutic benefits. For seniors and children facing specific challenges such as arthritis, dementia, or sore hands, EZ grasp and extra large piece jigsaw puzzles provide a solution that enhances their puzzle experience. In this article, we explore the advantages of using these specialized puzzles and highlight some notable brands that offer them.

Improved Dexterity and Hand-Eye Coordination

Seniors and children often encounter difficulties with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. EZ grasp puzzles feature larger, easier-to-handle pieces that enable individuals with arthritis or sore hands to engage more comfortably. These puzzles reduce strain and allow users to maintain a better grip, promoting improved dexterity and coordination.

Enhanced Focus and Cognitive Skills

Jigsaw puzzles are excellent tools for cognitive stimulation. They require concentration, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning. For individuals with dementia, puzzles can provide a sense of accomplishment, boost memory recall, and help maintain cognitive function. The larger pieces in EZ grasp and extra large puzzles make it easier for seniors and children to see and distinguish the details, enhancing their focus and cognitive engagement.

Reduced Frustration and Increased Confidence

Traditional puzzles with small pieces can be challenging for seniors and children, leading to frustration and discouragement. EZ grasp and extra large piece puzzles alleviate these frustrations by offering larger, more manageable pieces. This allows individuals to participate in the puzzle-solving process with greater ease, leading to increased confidence and a sense of achievement.

Notable Brands Offering EZ Grasp and Extra Large Piece Puzzles

Several puzzle companies recognize the importance of catering to the needs of seniors and children with specialized puzzles. Cobble Hill, Springbok, Ravensburger, and White Mountain are notable brands that offer EZ grasp and extra large piece puzzles.

Cobble Hill is known for it's quality, colorful and variety of images for those with sensitive or small hands.  No matter the season, there's a product available to share the family fun. 

Springbok offers a variety of puzzles designed specifically for seniors and children. Their EZ grasp puzzles feature large, easy-to-handle pieces and vibrant, captivating images that cater to various interests and skill levels.

Ravensburger, a renowned puzzle brand, also offers a range of extra large piece puzzles. Their high-quality puzzles are designed to provide an enjoyable experience for seniors and children, with larger pieces that are easy to grip and assemble.

White Mountain offers nostalgic and visually appealing puzzles with extra large pieces. Their puzzles are known for their high-quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and beautiful artwork, making them a favorite among puzzle enthusiasts of all ages.

Conclusion

EZ grasp and extra large piece jigsaw puzzles offer numerous benefits for seniors and children facing challenges such as arthritis, dementia, or sore hands. These specialized puzzles enhance dexterity, hand-eye coordination, focus, and cognitive skills. By reducing frustration and increasing confidence, they provide an enjoyable and rewarding puzzle experience.

Notable puzzle brands like Cobble Hill, Springbok, Ravensburger, and White Mountain recognize the unique needs of seniors and children, offering a wide range of puzzles designed to cater to their requirements.

Whether it's for therapeutic purposes or simply for fun, EZ grasp and extra large piece puzzles open up a world of possibilities, enabling seniors and children to engage in the joys of puzzling while overcoming physical and cognitive limitations.

(ChatGPT, personal communication, June 20, 2023)