I love the phrase 'bugger's muddle' Witzend have you managed to sort it yet?
I am in a similar position. I bought some beautiful alpaca sock yarn in a skein at a crafts show a little while back - which I've just decided to unwind.
Silly me - I knew it would be a bit tricky - but not this bad! I uploaded a video on 'how to disentangle a skein of wool' after I'd got into this muddle. If only I'd watched it first. Apparently you should open the wool out into a large circle, using your knees to help and simply unwind, there may be a few tangles. Ha, bloody ha.
That was two days ago. I've got four small balls so far but a way to go yet. I look at it and think, 'there's another fine mess I've got me into' a la Laurel and Hardy.
If DH were still alive and well he'd sympathise and offer to dispose of it quietly while I wasn't looking! But no, I'll persevere. Am I quite sane?
How does a 'lived experience' differ from an 'experience'?
Acute anxiety after death of my husband