I think the more porous material would hold paste better. Felt is softer yet still very porous. I have a couple of pasted strops Marty gave me. Canvas and dang if I can remember what the other is but it looks and feels like a cotton. Now my antique linen I would never use for paste because it merely cleans the blade before I take it to the horse hide. In a round about way I am saying, use what ever you like with paste but the linen before leather is mostly to clean the blade to save the leather.