Might not be super subtle, but quite original in its form.
Source Alex Smith
A subtle shadowed checkered pattern. Increase the lightness for even more subtle sexiness.
Source Josh Green
A background formed from an image of an old tile on the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art website. To get the base tile, select the rectangle in Inkscape and use shift-alt-i.
Source Firkin
Made by distorting a simple pattern using the 'sin waves' plugin for Paint.net and vectorising in Vector Magic
Source Firkin
A seamless background tile of aged paper with shabby look.
Source V. Hartikainen
Simple gray checkered lines, in light tones.
Source Radosław Rzepecki
Prismatic Triangular Background Design Mark II 5
Source GDJ
Prismatic Triangular Background Design Mark II 5
Source GDJ
Can’t believe we don’t have this in the collection already! Slick woven pattern with crisp details.
Source Max Rudberg
This is the remix of an OCAL clipart called "Rain on Window" uploaded by "pagarmidna".Thanks.This is a seamless pattern of raindrops.
Source Yamachem
You know I love paper patterns. Here is one from Stephen. Say thank you!
Source Stephen Gilbert
Prismatic Groovy Concentric Background 2 No Black
Source GDJ
He influenced us all. “Don’t be sad because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
Source Atle Mo
Remixed from a drawing in 'A Child of the Age', Francis Adams, 1894.
Source Firkin
You could get a bit dizzy from this one, but it might come in handy.
Source Dertig Media
A seamless pattern from a tile made from a jpg on Pixabay. To get the tile select the rectangle in Inkscape and use shift-alt-i.
Source Firkin
A repeating background with seamless texture of stone. There haven't been any stone-like backgrounds for a while, so I have decided to create one more. The rest can be found in the appropriate category.
Source V. Hartikainen
Embossed lines and squares with subtle highlights.
Source Alex Parker
A new take on the black linen pattern. Softer this time.
Source Atle Mo
Black brick wall pattern. Brick your site up!
Source Alex Parker
Prismatic Polyskelion Pattern No Background
Source GDJ
Remixed from a design on Pixabay. To get the tile this is based on select the rectangle in Inkscape and use shift-alt-i.
Source Firkin
Remixed from a drawing in 'Hungary. A guide book. By several authors', 1890.
Source Firkin
A background pattern with blue on white vertical stripes.
Source V. Hartikainen
Zerro CC tillable texture of stones photographed and made by me. CC0
Source Sojan Janso
One week and it's Easter already. Thought I would revisit the decorated egg contest at inkscape community: http://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?topic=118.0
Source Lazur URH
A free seamless background with pink spots.
Source V. Hartikainen