I do the x just to have extra support. Most of these are made for kids and will have many washings. You can also embroider a design in the middle, even an outline of a design will work, then I sew around all of the edges. I use the Accuquilt cutter to cut my blocks and keep alot of them made a head so when an unexpected baby gift is needed I can pull them from the box and sew them together.