A lady I know just started a sweater on "Homespun" which is all acrylic- but the color she chose is a very natural off white and the resulting fabric looks like a silk cotton blend- it's really pretty.
As for the linen stitch- try a swatch before you commit to a blanket- you may not love all the yarn forwards and backs- working bulky, that may be more than tiresome- it may be exhausting. But you'll love the texture it gives you! I have never tried linen stitch on something really bulky- It never dawned on me that I could! It's also going to gobble up yarn- but it will be a very warm soft blanket- the drape of linen stitch is fantastic.
As for the linen stitch- try a swatch before you commit to a blanket- you may not love all the yarn forwards and backs- working bulky, that may be more than tiresome- it may be exhausting. But you'll love the texture it gives you! I have never tried linen stitch on something really bulky- It never dawned on me that I could! It's also going to gobble up yarn- but it will be a very warm soft blanket- the drape of linen stitch is fantastic.