Pattern experiment

I have started an experiment to test my idea about having a second pattern on the bellydancer's hip scarf. I will be sewing an octopus in one stitch pattern on a background of a different pattern, both of which shade from dark to light at the same time following the red line.

That all looks a bit complicated but there is some very quick shading that needs to happen on the hip scarf so I want to try it at the hardest level first. In order to help the eye distinguish between the two stitch patterns I have selected ones that are different shades and shapes. The body of the octopus is darker and based on octagons while the background is the large mid-tone lace pattern I have used before. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to work that well.

Neither the shading nor the two different patterns are showing up clearly so far. I am going to try dividing the image into four quarters and using different combinations of stitch patterns to see what combinations are more effective but this is not looking very hopeful.