I have some cotton gingham from the 1970's - sort of thin for quilts. My Grandma used to use gingham to make aprons, embroidered cross stitch designs over the squares. Also did smocking using the squares to determine the gathering and embroidery. I did make a tablecloth of patchwork squares for my parents, including cotton gingham and it held up pretty well over the past 40 years, despite the thinness!