Here's another suggestion for creating a new pattern. Take some card stock and cut into squares---3 or 4" each. Leave some white, make a few of this color and a few of that color. Then mark some for HST, white/1st color, white/second color, 1st color/2nd color. Mark a few to be one big triangle and the other half as two triangles. Invest in some colored pencils.
The play around with the squares laid out this way and that. Set together 3x3, 4x4, 5x5--------------------as far as you want to go.
Hand draw a few basic designs like leaves and flowers and hearts to lay out applique style.
Just play with it