The method of the invention consists of forming a web of substantially planar-aligned fibers, applying a surface disposition of bonding material to one side of the web to penetrate only part way through the web in order to form a first surface region having the surface bonding material and a central core region free from the surface bonding material and bounded on the side opposite the first surface region by a second surface region, applying a penetrating disposition of bonding material to one side of the web in a fine, spaced-apart pattern which occupies less area in the plane of the web than the surface bonding material in the first surface region and penetrates through the central core region to connect the first and second surface regions together, and creping the web to decrease the fiber concentration in the central core region to less than that in the first surface region. In a preferred method, a surface disposition of bonding material is also applied to the second surface region, and the surface bonding material applied to the first surface region is in a fine, spaced-apart pattern and is used to adhere the bonded portions of the first surface region of the web to a creping surface in order to finely crepe those portions of the web upon creping the web from the creping surface.