How do i loosen the elastic in a waistband?

If the elastic is stitched down all the way around, it will be a big project. If it's a skirt and it has enough length, you might be better off cutting off the part with the elastic, then folding it over and sewing a new casing, and putting in a new, longer piece of elastic. If it's sewn into a casing, you can open the casing and cut the elastic. Then pull the elastic out and replace it with a longer piece. Thread the elastic through the casing with a safety pin, sew the ends, and then stitch the casing shut. You wouldn't want to just cut the elastic, whether it was stitched in or loose in a casing. If it was stitched in, you'd have one spot with no elastic, which would pull compared to the rest of the waistband. If it was loose in a casing, once you cut the elastic, the garment would not have anything to make it stay up. You could also take it to a place that does alterations, if it's a garment that you don't want to accidentally ruin.  more