Yarns for use in manufacture of composite structures are intermittently coated with adhesive, and may be twisted as well. These yarns are then woven into fabric, and heat and pressure applied to the intermittently-coated yarns to provide dimensional stability and to prevent unravelling of the fabric during cutting and handling. The fabric is then disposed in a mold or over a mandrel, and a curable resin applied and caused to cure. Provision of the adhesive in intermittent fashion limits propagation of cracks that may form at the location of the adhesive, which does not bond well to the curable resin.