Hello from South Louisiana! I searched for cross stitch squares in a quilt. Lots of wonderful pictures. Maybe one of these would work.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...uilt&FORM=IGRE
I haven't found specific details about quilting or if you have to back the squares before sewing them into the quilt top. Look forward to finding out how you end up incorporating them and what worked and what didn't.
This website sells quilt kits with cross stitch patterns included.
https://quilting-warehouse.com/colle...tch-quilt-kits
And looks like this may be what you want....
http://www.stitchingthenightaway.com...stitch-pieces/