To get the tile this is based on, select the rectangle in Inkscape and use shift+alt+i.
Source Firkin
Simple gray checkered lines, in light tones.
Source Radosław Rzepecki
From a drawing in 'Royal Ramsgate', James Simson, 1897.
Source Firkin
Tile available in Inkscape using shift-alt-i on the selected rectangle
Source Firkin
From a drawing in 'Navigations de Alouys de Cademoste.-La Navigation du Capitaine Pierre Sintre', Alvise da ca da Mosto, 1895.
Source Firkin
A seamless light gray paper texture with horizontal double lines.
Source V. Hartikainen
Greyscale version of a pattern that came out of playing with the 'slinky' plug-in for Paint.net
Source Firkin
A seamless pattern the starting point for which was a 'colour modulo' texture in Paint.net.
Source Firkin
Geometric lines are always hot, and this pattern is no exception.
Source Listvetra
From a drawing in 'Two Women in the Klondike', Mary Hitchcock, 1899.
Source Firkin
More Japanese-inspired patterns, Gold Scales this time.
Source Josh Green
Because I love dark patterns, here is Brushed Alum in a dark coating.
Source Tim Ward
This reminds me of Game Cube. A nice light 3D cube pattern.
Source Sander Ottens
A free seamless background image with a texture of dark red "canvas". It should look very nice on web sites.
Source V. Hartikainen
A repeating background of beige (or is it more vanilla yellow) textured stripes. One more background with stripes.
Source V. Hartikainen
If you want png files of this u can download them here : viscious-speed.deviantart.com/gallery/27635117
Source Viscious-Speed
Recreated from a pattern found in 'Az Osztrák-Magyar Monarchia irásban és képben', 1882. To get the tile this is based on select the rectangle in Inkscape and use shift+alt+i.
Source Firkin
The unit cell for this seamless pattern can be had in Inkscape by selecting the rectangle and using shift+alt+i.
Source Firkin
A nice one indeed, but I have a feeling we have it already? If you spot a copy, let me know on Twitter.
Source Graphiste
From a tile that can be had by selecting the rectangle in Inkscape and using shift+alt+i.
Source Firkin
First pattern tailor-made for Retina, with many more to come. All the old ones are upscaled, in case you want to re-download.
Source Atle Mo
Not the Rebel alliance, but a dark textured pattern.
Source Hendrik Lammers
Free tiled background with colorful stripes and white splatter.
Source V. Hartikainen
A background pattern with wavy green vertical stripes. This one has green stripes on a white background. Download if you like it.
Source V. Hartikainen
From a drawing in 'Studies for Stories', Jean Ingelow, 1864.
Source Firkin