GREAT KIDS: 17-year-old turns recovery into crocheted creations

GLASTONBURY, Conn. (WFSB) - At just 17 years old, a Glastonbury High School student has already overcome a big health hurdle.

Now, she has used her recovery to fuel her new passion.

Talia Quast is the owner of Handmade By Talia Quast.

The crocheted creations she calls Bittles have quickly become a business for the Glastonbury senior.

“This one is Patty Pumpkin. She promotes body positivity and the idea is pumpkins are all different shapes and sizes just like us,” Quast said. “Then they have different hats and the hats come off, so when you take the hats off they are all identical and the hats make them individual.”

For Talia, that was an important message to craft as she was coping with a challenge.

“I was in an eating disorder treatment about two years ago for anorexia nervosa and I started crocheting to use it as a coping skill to use for anxiety and just as a distraction,” she said.

As her business and social media accounts have grown—now with thousands of followers—so has the reach of the meaning behind the Bittles.

Each one symbolizes the beauty of being different. She’s heard from those whom she’s helped.

“They’ve reached out to me too and said how much I’ve helped them and inspired them and it’s really helpful to know that,” Quast said.

Talia shared her advice for those who may be struggling.

“Try to just be yourself and not work on being other people. I think that’s such a big thing, especially in eating disorder recovery. You’re so focused on other people around you and your own body and things that don’t really matter in the end. And once you realize that, it becomes a big thing in your life and a big change,” she said.

The National Eating Disorders Association says a recent study shows 22% of children and teens worldwide show a level of disordered eating. For resources, CLICK HERE.

To view Talia’s small business, CLICK HERE.