Disclosed are tubeless fiber optic cables having strength members, methods of making the cables, and methods for making strength members. Specifically, the concepts of the invention inhibit the distortion and/or influence the cross-sectional shape of the tubeless fiber optic cables due to torsional forces from the strength members. For instance, one tubeless fiber optic cable of the invention uses strength members with a dead-lay construction for inhibiting distortion of the same. Another tubeless fiber optic cable design uses strength members on opposite sides of the cavity where the torsional forces from the strength members are in opposite directions for influencing the cross-sectional shape of the same. Other aspects of the invention are directed to methods for making the tubeless fiber optic cables.