When I was a child, my grandmother taught me how to embroider, and we often used either preprinted or  hot iron transfers embroidery patterns, like the following from Aunt Martha’s

Image Credit: Aunt Martha’s on Amazon

The Embroidery Designs Were often composed of Xs or the Cross Stitch, as follows.

Image Credit: Aunt Martha’s on Amazon

A Heart Shape Created with Xs — or Cross Stitches

My grandmother was a quilter, and she also sewed many aprons from gingham fabric, and without fail, she smothered the gingham aprons with cross-stitch designs.

What Is A Cross Stitch in Embroidery

Image Credit: University of Kentucky Extension Service

How to Sew the Embroidery Cross Stitch on Gingham Fabric

Step 1: Sew A Straight Stich Diagonally Across One or More Gingham Squares

Image Credit: University of Kentucky Extension Service

Step 2: Cross the First Diagonal Stitches with Diagonal Stitches Moving the Opposite Way.

Image Credit: University of Kentucky Extension Service