The number of young women who knit has increased dramatically in the past ten years; however, there is little research focused on understanding young, female knitters. The purpose of this research was to examine the motivations of females 18 to 30 years of age, for participation in knitting. Uses and Gratifications Theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. Qualitative data were collected from 15 in-depth interviews. The interviews were analyzed with a constant comparative approach. Three major themes (incentives, barriers, and outcomes) and 12 subthemes emerged from the data. The emergent themes were compared to Uses and Gratifications Theory to determine the motivations for young women who participate in knitting. A Model of Motivations for Knitting among Young Women, was created to illustrate the relationship between the motivational themes that emerged from the data and categories within Uses and Gratifications Theory.
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