wool/linen wide enough for long sleeves

[M. Demetrius]

Try turning the fabric 90 degrees, so the selvage is at the shoulder and/or hem. You should be able to get very long sleeves that way. You'll probably have a seam on the top of the sleeve, though, which isn't always desirable.

Do you think the ancients used the technique you describe, or did they sew the sleeves on as separate pieces? You'll lose a lot of material by cutting a big "T" shape panel.