How do you insert pattern into calc spreadsheet cell?

This is easy to do in Excel through ‘format cell >fill’. cannot find a way to do in Libreoffice calc. any help is appreciated. Need for wifes sewing computer for quilt patterns.

I understand your problem. But is it possible that you just did not take the right tool? Calc is designed for calculations (mostly), but your task is visual. Perhaps you need another component of the office suite, for example Drawing?

unfortunately, at the moment, libreoffice does not have this feature.
anyway you can “fill” your cells thanks to an extension (https://extensions.libreoffice.org/extensions/hatch-patterns-for-cells) which provides Hatch Patterns feature