The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing body adhering absorbent articles orientated in the cross-machine direction, body adhering absorbent article having reduced or eliminated curl. The articles are manufactured with reduced curl by selectively reducing or eliminating the shell elastic tension in regions where components of the body adhering absorbent article are to be attached to form the composite absorbent article web. In certain aspects the body adhering absorbent articles are manufactured by supplying an elastic web of shell material having a longitudinal and transverse direction, that is stretchable only in the transverse direction, attaching at least one component to form a composite web material, and cutting the composite web material to form a body adhering absorbent article.