Circular Knitting Texture Ideas?

I am knitting my first circular knitting pattern which will be a stocking from Annie’s Woolens. I am making the stocking a bit longer by adding some repeated designs from the original pattern.

I would also like to add an area, maybe two inches or so, that is all one color but with texture. There are 54 stitches per row and I was trying to think of a way to use purl stitches to add a design with this amount of stitches. I am uncertain of how it will look with circular knitting because I this is my first time knitting in the round and am looking for ideas of pretty patterns.

Any thoughts?