I have had my "Machine Finishing" class brought forward a couple of months so I am updating my samples and notes.
As a trained teacher I am very aware of the "presumed knowledge" that books, commercial patterns and teachers, and in fact all types of teachers, think that students already have. This also applied in the classroom when I was teaching high school students. But a lot of basic knowledge has not been passed on to learners, of all ages. I know my own Mother didn't know how to sew or use a sewing machine and she would have been over 100 years old today.
So, as I am working on my notes all this is running through my mind. There is just so much basic knowledge and skills that my notes were turning into a "major novel." On visiting Phillipa Naylor's web site I found that she too has been thinking about this "presumed knowledge"and has called it "Basics". She has put together a whole series of videos about this for students to read prior to taking her dressmaking course. There is much here that doesn't apply to embroidery but it is all really important information for anyone that works with textiles.
These are presented under four headings.
Equipment
Fabric
Patterns and
Sewing Machine Basics.

The blurb at the top of the blog says:
Philippa Naylor shares her thoughts and advice on foundational tools and techniques required for garment making. We will be adding new videos to this series as we come across foundational topics which would be usefully covered by Philippa.
All these videos are free
So now my class notes refer students to these videos. I will highlight the ones I think are pertinent to my class and set them as background viewing. They are a wonderful resource. (Not that long ago I would have said background reading. Haven't times changed?)