Herringbone

Herringbone stitches are those which use the structure of a basic herringbone stitch: the thread crosses itself on one side of the fabric and on the other straight stitches are worked in the opposite direction of travel.

This means if the stitching is worked from right to left, each straight stitch is worked from left to right (so going back on itself) and then the crossing stitches allow forward travel.  The entry for double back stitch which is worked on a sheer fabric clearly shows the structure of the stitch.

Herringbone structure has similarities with cretan structure: the difference is that the straight stitches on the reverse for cretan are worked at right angles to the direction of travel.