How to use Teflon tape?

I have had to change the outside tap and this involved buying a female to female 1/2 inch connection. When I fully wound up the tap it points upwards. So I was advised to use some teflon tape (and that would seal the connection and allow the tap to point upwards), I did that but there are now leaks at both parts of the connector. I must have wound it 5 or 6 times. How does one use Teflon tape properly and how many times do you wind it around, should it be wound with a slight overlap or just on top of itself a number of times? I find it hard to get the tape to sit on the thread without it bunching up a bit.


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