Extensions > Render > Grid

I know it's an old thread but I guess someone will come looking for this again.

Thanks everyone who posted. I'm gonna experiment with your suggestions. It looks totally possible in Inkscape.

Thanks both of you for your replies. I'm wondering if the envelope tool will really distort properly on a curve. If I have to tweek the curve like in HeathenX's envelope tutorial it might be just the same as hand-tweeking the designs like I do now. I thought maybe the envelope tool would distort on ...

I bought one of those Starbucks "Create your own tumbler" tumblers where you can pull out the insert and add your own design. It's not a cylinder as such. It's a little wider at the top like a cone with the point cut off. I made a template in Inkscape and did some test designs. As expected...