[Vicki]

Since you stitch your elastic down at first belt loop positions instead of stitching ends together, do you still cut elastic the waist measurement – 1 inch?

[Lightning McStitch]

Hi Vicki, sorry for the late reply. Since the elastic only goes around the sides and back you don’t need the full waist measurement of elastic.
I usually stitch one end in pace then try it on the kid before trimming the elastic and stitching the other end.
If I haven’t got the kid to hand then I adjust the elastic until the waist circumference of the pants is a touch smaller than my kid’s measured waist.
I hope that helps.