How to Make The Cutest Bikini Top Without Sewing

DIY reversible no-sew bikini top

Have you ever found yourself in a last-minute bikini crisis, but didn't want to break the bank on a new swimsuit? Fear not, because after reading this post, you'll know how to make a bikini top without even touching a sewing machine.

With a little creativity and some inexpensive supplies, you can make as many bikinis as you want. So grab a drink, turn up the tunes, and get your DIY on!

How to make a bikini without sewing?

You can make a bikini without sewing by using heat-bonding tape that's specially made for stretch fabrics. This method is perfect for those who don't have a sewing machine and still want a beautiful-looking bikini. In fact, no one would believe that it wasn't sewn!

Let me show you the process, step by step, starting with picking your fabric...

Can you make a bikini with any fabric?

Because of exposure to water, bikinis cannot be made with just any fabric. The ideal bikini fabrics are those that have blends of Polyester/Spandex and Nylon/Spandex. These materials dry quickly and provide a comfortable fit to your body, making them perfect for enjoying your summer adventures.

Here are some gorgeous options that can be delivered straight to your doorstep!

If you want to make your bikini reversible, check out this shop that offers beautiful fabric bundles to help you effortlessly create a stunning two-sided swimsuit design:

How many yards of fabric do I need for a bikini?

You only need one yard of spandex fabric to make a bikini. With a single yard, you'll have enough space to cut a bikini top, bikini bottoms, and even some leftover fabric for a matching scrunchie.

- Also read:  How to make a scrunchie with a secret pocket (sew & no-sew)  - 

Bikini top pattern

The second most important thing you need to make a bikini top (with or without a sewing machine) is the PDF Pattern.

And this isn't just any bikini pattern – this bad boy was designed to be styled in over 17 different ways, giving you the most bang for your buck.

After purchase, you'll get instant access to a file that's ready to be printed at home on regular letter size or A4 paper.

And the best part? This baby will allow you to make as many bikini tops as you want ‘cause, let's face it, one color is never enough!

The best heat bonding tape to make bikinis.

There are different types of heat-activated tapes, and they're often used to create clean hems in seconds without even touching a needle. But when it comes to making a bikini top, you'll need a tape that works on stretch fabric, like this one:

Other materials to make a no-sew bikini top:

In addition to the heat bonding tape, you'll also need scissors to cut the fabric and an iron to activate the adhesive tape. (…and OMG how cute is this portable iron?!)

To help you turn the thin under-bust straps inside out and pass them through both sides of your top, you'll need a loop-turning tool or regular safety pins.

Personally, I like to use both: the long turning tool to turn the strap inside out and safety pins for passing the strap through the top.

How to cut the fabric using the pattern

You'll need to cut four pattern pieces on the stretch fabric, plus a 59" by 1 5/8" strip for the underbust strap.

If you fold your fabric in half, the layout using a single fabric should look something like this:

Make sure to leave empty space on the folded edge in case you want to cut some cute bikini bottoms later to match your top.

If you want a reversible bikini top, then simply cut two pattern pieces in one color and the other two in a different fabric. 

How to make a no-sew bikini top

Here's a video that shows you step-by-step how to make a bikini top without sewing! It took me around an hour to complete, and the results were impressive! I'll definitely use this tape in more of my projects.

Below the video, you'll find the five easy steps with timestamps in case you need to rewatch a specific part.

How do you style a bikini top?

You can style your bikini top by playing around with the way you tie the straps and by moving around each side of the top. With this styling process, you can literally turn a triangle top into a strapless bikini top in seconds.

Check out this video for 17+ ways to style your bikini top step-by-step. There are so many cool options to choose from, so don't be afraid to experiment and find the perfect look for you!

Easy bikini top wrap up

This is definitely one of the easiest fashion projects you can make, and the best part is that you can make more than one bikini top for less than $29!

If you want to make this project even more affordable, you can repurpose an old t-shirt. However, keep in mind that a dry-fit type of fabric from activewear would be a better option than regular cotton fabric from a t-shirt if you plan to get it wet. Otherwise, if you don't mind that the cotton takes longer to dry, it will work just fine.

Are you ready to show off your awesome new bikini top? Grab your pattern here and order some of that magical bonding tape so you can enjoy your creation ASAP!

The power to turn the invisible into visible lies in your hands 🙂

P.S. If you ever feel like trying the sewing method, be sure to check out this post on how to sew a multi-way bikini top.

This post was all about how to make a bikini top without sewing.  If you want to explore more DIYs check out  the “Handmade Product Ideas” section.