La courte pointe (80 pcs)

Inspired by Quebec tradition, this wooden jigsaw puzzle of 80 pieces celebrates the quilt, a symbol of warmth and craftsmanship. Each piece is decorated with colourful knitted patterns: diamonds, stripes, chevrons and little hearts mix in shades of turquoise, mustard, brick red, orange and cream. The result is a big cozy patchwork that makes you want to sit down at the table with a cup of tea.

The originality here lies in the shape of the pieces. The contours cut out of the wood are unusual, and each piece can fit into another, which creates negative holes that act as landmarks during assembly. The puzzle comes in a book-shaped wooden box, whose cut-out window gives a peek at the patterns.

You will probably love this puzzle if you enjoy original puzzles that break the mould, if you like warm colours and knitted patterns, or if you are looking for a Quebec-made gift that is both pretty and stimulating. With only 80 pieces, it can be completed in an evening, but the shape of the pieces calls for observation and logic.

This puzzle is a creation of the Quebec company Une à la fois, known for wooden puzzles whose difficulty comes mostly from the shape of the pieces rather than their number. The maker rates its difficulty at 4 out of 5.