cross stitch is embdroided starting from the left-lowers side to the right upper side. (the orientation is not a rule, but try to make all the stitches in the same direction)

The return is made by a stitch in the opposite direction, starting from the right lower side and finished in the left upper side.

(different colors for the same stitch are used to make it easer to recognize the forward stitch from the return)

it is possible to embroider an entire line of half stitches of a same color

And then complete the cross stitches by returning back like explained above.

An alternative is to embroider the whole color using the half stitch, moving on the line above after you finish the first line of half stitches.

Getting back at the end of the area by stitching the returns all toghether in one time.