Originally Posted by Julie's free time

I end up with a ball of string with fabric flags hanging off of it when I try to wash a bunch of fabric. I tried according folding and then pinning the ends, still got a wad-o-tangles, this time with pins sticking out of it; putting it in a mesh bag, got a wad-o-tangles in the bag; and the latest try is cutting the edge with pinking shears. Waiting for the load to finish now to see if that worked.

Any suggestions to avoid the next Gordian knot?
Julie