Left twist thread is the direction the thread is loaded onto the spool. Sometimes it makes a difference whether the thread is comming off the spool Horz. or Vert. If it twists comming off the spool one way, change the direction of the spool. Sometimes the way the thread comes off the spool, over or under to thread you machine makes a difference. If one way does it change to the other. Hand sewing,,,take the thread in your fingers before knotting and let the needle untwist naturally, and no more knots. Sometimes you can take the two ends and snap them and the needle will spin and take out the twists for you, then knot it. Good luck, Jean