A method of preparing a woven ceramic fabric for use in a ceramic matrix composite includes transforming a woven fabric sheet having a first tow architecture into a separated woven fabric sheet having a second tow architecture, the first tow architecture including a plurality of warp tows and a plurality of weft tows, and the second tow architecture including a plurality of warp subtows and/or a plurality of weft subtows. Transforming the woven fabric sheet includes separating at least some of the plurality of warp tows and/or the plurality of weft tows into a greater number of corresponding warp subtows and/or weft subtows, respectively, such that second tow architecture includes more warp subtows and/or weft subtows than the first tow architecture comprises warp tows and weft tows, and wherein each of the warp subtows and/or weft subtows includes fewer filaments than corresponding warp tow and/or weft tow. Each of the plurality of warp subtows and/or weft subtows is spaced apart from the closest adjacent warp subtow and/or weft subtow, respectively, a distance of 25 to 230 microns.