The Scuba Crepe Joni Jumpsuit

Scuba Crepe is a strange fabric because it looks just like crepe… until you handle it and realise that its bouncy, and stretchy and behaves nothing like crepe at all. It’s made from polyester and elastane so is entirely man-made. Now the great thing about scuba fabrics is that it has a greater thickness to normal knit fabrics which I think is really flattering and holds its form, so it’s a perfect fabric for things like jumpsuits.

A few things that are worth knowing about this fabric… it is very bouncy. By that, I mean it doesn’t press well (you can’t use a high heat without risk of melting) but it just doesn’t like being folded back on itself (it’s part of the reason why it’s called scuba as it does feel an awful lot like neoprene). This means you have to get a bit clever where patterns say to press things and use other techniques to help it stay where it’s meant to be. So, for this pattern, I under-stitched the neckline as this helped keep the lining to the inside. I also used pins to keep things held in place, like when the pockets are patched on.

This pattern only recently hit my radar, but the cut of it and the really beautiful strap detail at the back pulled me in (plus, it has pockets too!). Having never used a pattern by the Friday Pattern Company before, I have been mostly impressed by it, although I did disagree with a couple of the instructions...

The biggest confusion I had with the instructions was why on earth the side seams were being sewn as they described… because it was much fiddlier to do. Whenever I am trying a pattern for the first time, I always try to follow the instructions to the letter so that I can get a true gauge on it, but I have to admit on this occasion I had to abandon halfway through the construction of the bodice because it was so illogical and destined for disaster.
The instructions say to stitch the lining and outers together on the front bodice and then to do the same for the back bodice pieces, then opening the two out to stitch them together at the side seams. Due to the angles on the top line of this bodice though this was hard to get to lay flat and would have been very hard to get the seams accurately lined up along the top edge. So, I urge you should you try this pattern to create 2 bodices, one for the outer and 1 for the lining by stitching the front to back at the side seams. Once you’ve done this you place the 2 right sides together and attach them along the top edge… I cannot emphasise enough how much easier this is to do and that you’ll end up in the same place at the end but with a more accurate top line.

Some other tips that will make life easier for you… is when making straps, stitch over one end as well as down the sides. This will make it possible to push something down it to turn the straps and then you can either unpick those few stitches sealing one end, cut it off, or for this pattern you actually need one end sealed so could leave it.
In order to turn the V you will need to cut down very close to your stitches. It’s something I find people are terrified to do but a V-neck will not turn and sit flat unless you do.

This jumpsuit has a zip up the back, I used a concealed one, but you could use a fun chunky zip and create a feature out of it… the only thing is I’m not sure this needs a zip at all. It’s always weird to me when a stretch garment calls for a zip, but it’s all about how much your fabric stretches as to whether you’ll be able to get in and out without. Putting one in is always the safest option, you just may find that like me with this you forget to undo it when changing. Due to the bouncy nature of this fabric, I hand stitched the zip tape to the waist seam allowance to help keep it flat after I had inserted it.

My last note on this pattern that, I think, is incredibly important is that I am 5”5… and the reason this is relevant is because I have turned the tiniest of hems to give myself the most length I could and I still think it’s a smidge short (I am making more wide leg garments and am still trying to figure out what length I like wearing them at).
I cut this to the length on the pattern, so I would suggest adding a couple more inches if you’re 5”5 and more if you’re taller. I would always rather cut more length than I need and give myself more room to play with for the hem than cut it short. I have toyed with cutting these shorter still to wear them intentionally cropped but will wear them a few more times before I finalise that decision.

This fabric and pattern combination has given me an outfit I am totally thrilled with. It is definitely one of those garments that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion which gives me so many styling opportunities. Having worn it on its own, I’m looking forward to trying it out with a pattern clashing tee underneath, which if you know my style you will not be surprised to hear!


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