Not so subtle. These tileable wood patterns are very useful.
Source Elemis
From a drawing in 'Sun Pictures of the Norfolk Broads', Ernest Suffling, 1892.
Source Firkin
This is a semi-dark pattern, sort of linen-y.
Source Sagive SEO
Three shades of gray makes this pattern look like a small carbon fiber surface. Great readability even for small fonts.
Source Atle Mo
Design drawn in Paint.net, vectorised using Vector Magic and finished in Inkscape.
Source Firkin
The tile this is based on was adapted from an image that was uploaded to Pixabay by frolicsomepl. It can be had in Inkscape by selecting the rectangle and using shift+alt+i
Source Firkin
Abstract Ellipses Background Grayscale
Source GDJ
Remixed from a design seen in 'Burghley. The Life of William Cecil', William Charlton, 1857
Source Firkin
Clover with background for St. Patrick's Day. Add to a card with a doily, ribbon, a leprechaun or other embellishments.
Source BAJ
From a drawing in 'Cowdray: the history of a great English House', Julia Roundell, 1884.
Source Firkin
This was formed by distorting an image of a background on Pixabay.
Source Firkin
From a drawing in 'Cassell's Library of English Literature', Henry Morley, 1883.
Source Firkin
To get the tile this is based on, select the rectangle in Inkscape and use shift+alt+i.
Source Firkin
This is the remix of "Strawberry Pattern Background" uploaded by "GDJ". Thanks. I realigned strawberries so as to get seamless and changed the BG color.
Source Yamachem
This is so subtle you need to bring your magnifier!
Source Carlos Valdez
Background Wall, Art Abstract, Blue Well & CC0 texture.
Source Ractapopulous
Dark and hard, just the way we like it. Embossed triangles makes a nice pattern.
Source Ivan Ginev
If you want png files of this u can download them here : viscious-speed.deviantart.com/gallery/27635117
Source Viscious-Speed
New paper pattern with a slightly organic feel to it, using some thin threads.
Source Atle Mo
From a drawing in 'Les Chroniqueurs de l'Histoire de France depuis les origines jusqu'au XVIe siècle', Henriette Witt, 1884.
Source Firkin
More leather, and this time it’s bigger! You know, in case you need that.
Source Elemis
A seamless pattern the starting point for which was a 'colour modulo' texture in Paint.net.
Source Firkin
Remixed from a PNG that was uploaded to Pixabay by k_jprather
Source Firkin
Hey, you never know when you’ll need a bird pattern, right?
Source Pete Fecteau
A seamless pattern the unit cell for which can be had by selecting the rectangle in Inkscape and using shift+alt+i
Source Firkin