Let's take a look at a very hip sounding scale, Melakarta #31, known as Yagapriya. As you can see, Yagapriya has an unusual interval makeup:
1 1/2 steps - half step - half step - whole step - half step - half step - 1 1/2 steps
1 1/2 steps - half step - half step - whole step - half step - half step - 1 1/2 steps