A method of forming an article of footwear, the method comprising: attaching a first strand portion to a flexible substrate via first stitching that crosses over the first strand portion and penetrates the substrate at first attachment locations that are spaced apart from the first strand portion to form a first layer on the substrate positioning a second strand portion on the first layer to form a second layer on the first layer in a plurality of discrete regions on the substrate; attaching the first strand portion to the flexible substrate via second stitching that crosses over the second strand portion, extends through the first strand portion, and penetrates the substrate at second attachment locations disposed in the discrete regions of the substrate; positioning the substrate on a first mold surface to change a shape of the substrate; applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion, the second strand portion, and the substrate to conform the substrate to the shape of the first mold surface and to form traction elements from the second strand portion at each of the discrete regions, whereby applying heat and pressure includes subjecting the first strand portion, the second strand portion, and the substrate to at least one of vacuum molding and compression molding and further includes at least one of (i) activating a polymeric resin incorporated into the first strand portion and the second strand portion, and (ii) infusing the first strand portion, the second strand portion, and the substrate with a liquid material, the liquid material being a thermoset material and incorporating the substrate into an article of footwear. attaching a first strand portion to a flexible substrate via first stitching that crosses over the first strand portion and penetrates the substrate at first attachment locations that are spaced apart from the first strand portion to form a first layer on the substrate positioning a second strand portion on the first layer to form a second layer on the first layer in a plurality of discrete regions on the substrate; attaching the first strand portion to the flexible substrate via second stitching that crosses over the second strand portion, extends through the first strand portion, and penetrates the substrate at second attachment locations disposed in the discrete regions of the substrate; positioning the substrate on a first mold surface to change a shape of the substrate; applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion, the second strand portion, and the substrate to conform the substrate to the shape of the first mold surface and to form traction elements from the second strand portion at each of the discrete regions, whereby applying heat and pressure includes subjecting the first strand portion, the second strand portion, and the substrate to at least one of vacuum molding and compression molding and further includes at least one of (i) activating a polymeric resin incorporated into the first strand portion and the second strand portion, and (ii) infusing the first strand portion, the second strand portion, and the substrate with a liquid material, the liquid material being a thermoset material and incorporating the substrate into an article of footwear.