Our Story

Hi, I’m Crystal - baker, mom and wife to the best taste testers in the world, former techie, and lifelong carb enthusiast.

For the past decade (okay, longer if you count my banana bread era), baking has been the thing I always come back to. Through career highs, tough seasons, big wins, and life pivots, I’ve found peace in the process - flour in my hair, dough on the counter, something rising slowly in the kitchen. Bread has been my anchor.

After 8 incredible years in tech - building programs, supporting entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities, and giving back through work I loved - I found myself laid off in early 2025, like so many others. It was a moment to pause. And ask: what now?

The answer, as it turns out, was right in front of me. Or more accurately, cooling on a rack next to the window.

So I did what any millennial mom with a sourdough starter named "Maria-Claudia" might do: I turned my forever side passion into Knead the North - a small-batch bakery built on sharing what I love most with the people around me, with strong nods to the incredible place I call home - Canada, and the Italian family and friends that taught me to love and appreciate the value of homemade food.  

I specialize in crusty sourdough loaves, hand-rolled pretzels, and rosemary garlic focaccia that gets devoured at family dinners. Every bake is rooted in joy, generosity, and a deep belief that food made with care can bring people together.

This is my way of giving back, again - one loaf at a time.

But before I go, you really HAVE to try the pretzels. They're life changing - I promise.