If you have a large enough space, you may opt to lay all the pieces out on a table at once. However, if your space is limited, you may opt to place the puzzle on a movable board and sort the pieces into bins or bowls of some sort to keep colors or shapes of a certain type together.
When you’ve used all of the edge pieces your puzzle will look like a picture frame. Leave the center of the frame free of pieces and only put sections of completed pieces in. (Otherwise, you will have a continuous issue with removing unsorted pieces from the area where you want to work or put in completed sections. )
One alternative to sorting is to arrange pieces in a large horseshoe shape. This arrangement will allow you to see all of the puzzle pieces by sweeping your gaze from left to right. Set all of the pieces out flat and picture side up. If you place the pieces into piles it will be harder to identify the pieces you need.
If you get stuck, move to another section. The purpose of this step is to create many small groups that can be put together later.
If you’ve really hit a dead end, turn the puzzle picture upside down or work from a different side of the puzzle. This will force you to search for similarities in color and shape between the pieces that you may not have noticed otherwise.
