Upcycling My Jeans & Maternity Pants

Earlier I had asked readers for some ideas on how to refashion my old pair of fisherman maternity pants and the top part of my old jeans (the bottom part went to reupholstering a chair). A few ladies suggested doing ruffles but I really hate ironing!  Then I saw this idea that Mezzy from Penelope Hanger Refashions and decided to make one too. 

Unlike conventional pants, fisherman pants are designed with the front and back panels of the pants connected in the crotch area only.   I didn't have a continuous piece of fabric but I also liked the way the back panel hung from the front when held up from the front.  I hope this makes sense.

 I decided to cut the back half of the pants first and then use it as a template to cut out a similar panel on another batik fabric.  I wanted the same flowing effect. 

I then sewed the two halves together to make a continuous piece of fabric - it came to about 1.5  times my waist.

The fabric was then sewn onto the jeans. At this stage I sewed it on by hand. Originally I used a sewing machine but I broke 3 needles and by the time I got it right, it wasn't right :-(  All the sewing went haywire (see below).

Here's the end result - perfect for summer!

I might add some detail along the point where the batik fabric joins the jeans.