Three shades of gray makes this pattern look like a small carbon fiber surface. Great readability even for small fonts.
Source Atle Mo
This background has abstract texture with some similarities to wood.
Source V. Hartikainen
Remixed from an image on Pixabay, the original having been uploaded by darkmoon1968.
Source Firkin
A simple example on using clones. You can generate a nice base for a pattern fill quickly with it.
Source Lazur URH
I guess this one is inspired by an office. A dark office.
Source Andrés Rigo.
From a drawing in 'La Principauté de Liège et les Pays-Bas au XVIe siècle', Société des Bibliophiles Liégeois ,1887.
Source Firkin
Not the Rebel alliance, but a dark textured pattern.
Source Hendrik Lammers
Prismatic Geometric Pattern Background 2 No Black
Source GDJ
Abstract Tiled Background Extended 8
Source GDJ
In the spirit of WWDC 2011, here is a dark iOS inspired linen pattern.
Source Atle Mo
The tile this is formed from can be retrieved in Inkscape by selecting the rectangle and using shift+alt+i
Source Firkin
Zero CC tileable ground (#2) cracked, crackled texture, made by me. CC0
Source Sojan Janso
To get the tile this is based on, select the rectangle in Inkscape and use shift-alt-i.
Source Firkin
Very simple, very blu(e). Subtle and nice.
Source Seb Jachec
Zerro CC tillable texture of stones photographed and made by me. CC0
Source Sojan Janso
A free seamless background image with abstract texture of green "curtain".
Source V. Hartikainen
Prismatic Chevrons Pattern 5 With Background
Source GDJ
Free tiled background with colorful stripes and white splatter.
Source V. Hartikainen
Fabric-ish patterns are close to my heart. French Stucco to the rescue.
Source Christopher Buecheler
Zerro CC tillable texture of stones photographed and made by me. CC0
Source Sojan Janso
Prismatic Geometric Pattern Background 2
Source GDJ
Not so subtle. These tileable wood patterns are very useful.
Source Elemis
To get the tile this is based on, select the rectangle in Inkscape and use shift+alt+i.
Source Firkin