Ok, I was searching the internet a few months back for free looping patterns to use for the background of my website and I came across a website called Pattern Cooler. www.patterncooler.com

This site has loads of free vector type looping patterns to download (they are color customizable online). Some would look awesome in game and I have actually seen a few here already. If I find the time I may be able to convert a few for everyone but until then I thought I would let everyone know this site is out there for all of you pattern creating people. :D

That's a great site, but just so you know, a LOT of people have made Sims 3 patterns with their stuff So please, if you're planning to upload pattern cooler patterns, check the other patterns uploads first, and do something we don't have already. Unless of course you are doing something noticeably different with the pattern, like a different size or number of channels.

I know that many have already used some of their patterns. I just thought I would put it out there as a place that everyone could go an take a look... and some may even find that the easiest way to start out making their own for the game. Its just a general resource

Dreamstime.com has some beautiful ones as well. I just did a google search for pastel patterns and found heaps. I just need to find a tutorial thoroughly explaining how to work with layers in Gimp, and I'm gonna be a happy camper.

Here are some links about layers in GIMP... (even though it's rather offtopic):
http://manual.gimp.org/en/gimp-image-combining.html
http://gimp-savvy.com/BOOK/
Or, if you have a specific problem, you can PM me or any other person here who uses GIMP =)

http://www.modthesims.info/member.php?u=231667 << she also uploads here from patterncooler.

Here's some gimp video tutorials: http://www.biehlonline.com/downloads.html