Spoof IKEA instruction leaflet

Folks often ask how to set a themed crossword, so here’s a simple guide:

Well done!

Watch those fillings! 🙂

I set today’s Inquisitor crossword which you’ll find in #iWeekend @theipaper.com

Hawk: Wha?

Listener Crossword

I set today’s Listener Crossword, which you’ll find in The Times 🙂

Oo-er - good luck! 🧐

I use QXW, not Crossword Compiler. Happy to answer any dumb questions, if it still applies.

Crossword puzzle grid

I make my debut in the Magpie magazine this month. Hope you enjoy it 🙂

July 2025 Prize Puzzle - Dame by Skylark Dame by Skylark An extra letter in each clue should be removed before solving, which in the order given, spells out instructions for solver...

The July Prize Puzzle from the Crossword Centre is Dame by Skylark. You can try it here.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/06/july...

Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle May 2025 Gig Economy by Wan 36 clues include an extra letter in the wordplay part of the clue which much be removed to enable solving. The extra let...

The May Prize Puzzle from the Crossword Centre is Gig Economy by Wan. You can get it now.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/04/cros...

The April newsletter from the Crossword Centre, with the results of the Round Robin, is published today.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2025/04/cros...

I’ve not spotted it yet, thanks Nick. If it’s topical, I may struggle. I’m filtering out some news items right now.

I set today’s Listener Crossword, which you’ll find in The Times 🙂

The Christmas special on the Crossword Centre is Checkerboard Challenge by Arcadia.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2024/11/chri...

December 2024 Prize Puzzle Seasons Greetings XVI by Eclogue Seasons Greetings XVI by Eclogue PDF copy Radial entries run from the centre to the perimeter, or vice versa, eighteen of each. Each clue c...

The December prize puzzle from the Crossword Centre is available now. Seasons Greetings XVI by Eclogue.
crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2024/11/dece...

Solution to paper-folding puzzle.

Solution time 🙂 So, this is how to fold a hexagon from a square. The key step is to fold into four in one direction, then fold the corners in to touch those 1/4 and 3/4 creases:

Did anyone try this paper-folding puzzle? Do you need a hint? I’ll post the solution on Friday 🙂

A paper-folding puzzle

Another puzzle for you to have a go at. Let me know how you get on. I’ll post the answer next week 🙂

I’ve seen worse 🙂

Not many takers so far.

“Here lies John Blyth with nerves of steel,
His height and years deficient.
He failed to check his bunjee’s
Elasticity coefficient.”

Welcome to anyone who’s recently joined Bluesky. I post the occasional puzzle, but here’s a creative challenge: cautionary epitaphs.

“Beneath this slab
John Brown is stowed.
He watched the ads
And not the road”

- Ogden Nash

Your challenge is to compose a cautionary epitaph for the modern world 🙂

November 2024 Prize Puzzle Rising Costs II by Hedge-sparrow PDF copy Thirteen cells represent thematic locations.  Twelve clues include an extra word (in one case, tw...

The Prize Puzzle on the Crossword Centre is Rising Costs by Hedge-sparrow

crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2024/10/nove...

I prefer my solvers to feel that they have emerged from a war zone.

Well spotted!

Quick Puzzle 🙂

1. Go ahead
2. Live
3. Escaping justice
4. Moment
5. Outsized celestial carriage
6. Capital
7. Object pronouns
8. Black
9. Encephalopathy
10. ?

Ok, this guy may help…

There’s a connection between GNAT and TANG which is less obvious. Would you like a clue?

The classic solution 👏

Yes, forcing the required solution predicates nonlinearity of the fuse materials, which, although possible, isn’t practical.