I am no expert on restoration of precious or antique items. I did have to mend a quilt for a friend recently. A block was seriously damaged and worn. The fabric that had disintegrated was a very soft almost tissue like fabric. I back it with a very light weight interfacing just to give it more body while I stitched the heavier cotton fabrics. I thik so much depends upon how you plan on displaying this, what other fabrics you are going to use etc. Will the light weight linen sag? Can it "hold it's own" with a batik? A couple of years ago I made a simple white dll using an old pillowcase that my Grandmother had embroidered. The embroidery was the doll's skirt and the crochet lace trim was the doll's bonnet. It was the most sentimental precious thing I've ever made!