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 budget-friendly supplies, you can make as many cute tops as you want.

So grab a drink, turn up the tunes, and let’s get started! ✨

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 beautiful-looking results.

In fact, no one will believe that it wasn’t sewn!

Let me walk you through 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!

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.

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, the one used for this project isn’t just any bikini pattern—this bad boy is designed to be styled 17+ different ways, giving you the most bang for your buck! 🙌🏼🔥

This pattern is ready to print at home on regular letter-size or A4 paper, and the best part? You can make as many bikini tops as you want—because let’s be real, 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. 🤓

DIY tutorial summary

Here are the five essential steps to create a reversible, no-sew bikini top, and below you can also watch the full tutorial for all the details and more crafting tips!

Step #1 – Prepare the Pattern and Cut the Fabric

Print the sewing pattern at 100% scale (check the test square for accuracy) and tape the pieces together, matching letters.

Cut four triangle pieces: two from each stretch fabric color. Also cut one underbust strap (150 cm x 4 cm / 59” x 1 5/8”). 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.

Step #2 – Apply Heat Bonding Tape to Edges

Cut heat bonding tape to 3/8” wide, saving the 1/4” excess. Apply 3/8” tape, with the textured glue side down, along the bottom curve of each triangle piece, making small cuts to fit the curve. Iron to bond.

Mark areas to skip tape: 1” up from the bottom edge and a 2” gap 5” down from the top tip. Apply tape to the remaining sides and top edge.

Step #3 – Bond Fabric Pieces Together

Peel off the paper backing from the tape to reveal the glue. Place two triangle pieces of different colors with good sides facing inward, align carefully, and cover with a damp cloth. Iron, moving section by section, until the cloth dries to bond the pieces. Repeat for the other triangle pieces.

Step #4 – Create Underbust Strap Channel

Mark 1” up from the bottom edge of each triangle and apply 3/8” tape above this line to form a strap tunnel. Peel off the paper.

Then, trim top corners and 1/8” from the bottom curve for sharpness, and turn the piece inside out through the 2” gap.

Iron with a damp cloth to bond the tunnel, then close the gap with a small piece of tape and iron again.

Step #5 – Assemble the Strap and Finish

Apply 3/8” tape along one side of the underbust strap fabric, peel off the paper, fold the fabric in half, and iron with a damp cloth to bond.

Trim 1/8” from the edge, turn inside out using a loop turner or safety pin, and iron for a flawless finish.

Thread the strap through the tunnels of both triangle pieces with a safety pin and tie knots at the ends to complete the top.

Watch 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. 🤩

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 guide 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: Final Thoughts

This is one of the easiest fashion projects you can make! And if you’re scared to try it on brand-new fabric, you can have fun with a test run using an old t-shirt.

However, if you plan to get your bikini wet, a dry-fit activewear fabric is a much better option than regular cotton. But if you don’t mind that cotton absorbs a lot of water and takes longer to dry, it can still work just fine!

Ready to show off your new bikini top? 😍 Grab your pattern here and don’t forget that magical bonding tape—so you can make it in no time and start wearing it ASAP! ✨

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

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