Thanks for the shopping advice Foxie I will have a look at the KF wool next time I am in BW...busy working out how I am going to knock up a Princess Leia dress out of an old sheet for my D at the moment!
BTW I knitted a 'Tom Baker' style scarf in pastel colours for said D a couple of years ago - I am sure I just did it in stocking stitch. However, a very basic garter stitch can be very effective especially in chunky wool and nothing could be easier.