YES, you can sew them on the diaginol in squares going in 2 different directions, or 4 forming a larger sq or slice them in half and sew in different direction or in in triangles and sew with different triangles, oblong and put together say a 4 x5.7.9 " any size you want. wide stripes or narrow,straight across, up and down or diaginol what every your heart desires.
You can use paper for back ground instead of muslin, or any old fabrice you don't know what to with just be careful that the background color does not come thru. I'm sorry is it diagonal or diaginol can't remember and can't find dictionary