WIP: Harry Potter scarf--start over?

I haven't wanted to pick this back up for two reasons. One, I am knitting it in the round on straight needles in stockinette. This has the same effect as if I were doing a 1x1 rib: the yarn moves on every stitch. However--if I knitted it in REVERSE stockinette and turned it inside out when I was done (for the traditional tube-scarf look), I won't have to move the yarn at ALL: just purl, slip 1, purl. I did something or other this way to see if it was faster and it REALLY is!

Two, I hate the yarn. Over Christmas my stepdad picked it out, and he didn't want to get fancy and so picked acrylics like your grandma used to make ugly sweaters out of--and worse, UNMATCHED ones, the grey is stiffer than the maroon. I want to do it right and considering I already want to start over and work it in rev stockinette, I'm going to break down and buy some NICE yarn that I will be happy to work with and proud to make a gift out of. I think I want to do a wool/acrylic blend, something washable, if it exists. In fact, the wool amy! sent us for the blanket would work perfectly if it comes in my colors...