I fell for the Festival de Flores Azul print the moment I unrolled it — Melissa Lowry’s vibrant, graphic florals feel modern and wearable, and Minerva’s choice of a scuba base gives the design real presence. Minerva’s scuba is a double-faced, medium–heavy knit with excellent recovery, made to hold shape and resist creasing; the site lists it as a polyester/spandex blend with generous crosswise stretch and a weight around 260 gsm, so it’s opaque and unlined garments usually work well.

In the end I useda few patterns to explore the fabric’s personality: Deer & Doe Zephyr dress and Butterick 6996 top. The Zephyr’s clean lines and gentle flare are ideal for scuba’s body and bounce; Butterick 6996 makes a smart, structured top. The scuba keeps hems crisp and silhouettes sculpted without feeling stiff.

How I sewed it (tools and techniques that helped)

• Needle: I used a ballpoint/stretch needle to avoid skipped stitches and to respect the knit structure.

• Marking: For notches and darts I combined small snips in the seam allowance with a water‑erasable pen for dart legs — snips are fast and reliable on thick knits, while the pen helps with precision.

• Seams: I sewed seams on my semi‑industrial machine for speed and strength, then finished with the overlocker for a neat, stretchy seam allowance.

• Hem: The overlocker made a perfect rolled hem on the Zephyr — quick, tidy, and it keeps the edge flexible. If you prefer not to use a zigzag, stretch thread in the bobbin or a narrow zigzag are both good alternatives for seam elasticity.

Practical tips for sewing scuba

• Use fresh stretch/ballpoint needles and a slightly longer stitch length to avoid perforating the fabric.

• Avoid heavy pressing — scuba responds well to light steam and a low‑temperature iron; press seams gently and use a press cloth.

• Stabilise where needed: add lightweight interfacing to facings and button plackets; clear elastic can stabilise shoulder seams.

• Clips over pins: fabric is thick and pins can leave marks; use clips or very fine pins only where necessary.

• Test hems: try a narrow twin‑needle or coverstitch machine if you have one; otherwise a rolled hem on the overlocker looks professional and keeps stretch.

Melissa Lowry’s Festival de Flores Azul on scuba is fun, bold, and surprisingly versatile — it makes statement dresses that still feel comfortable, and tops that keep their shape. If you want a print that reads modern and a fabric that behaves like a structured knit should, this combo is a winner.

Simona

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