Montana Shoppers in Stitches Over JoAnn Fabrics’ Gift Card Mess

Well, y’all, it appears an unraveling has begun in the world of crafting. JoAnn Fabrics, our go-to oasis for crafting, has gotten snippy and snipped the scissors on not just its stores but our sanity, as well. The company's anticipated shutdown of all 800 outlets nationwide has left Montana's crafters alike tied up in a "knot" of frustration, having suddenly ceased accepting gift cards.

There you are, a dedicated DIYer with a JoAnn gift card in your hot little hands and dreams of warm quilts and handmade holiday decorations in your head. You waltz into your neighborhood JoAnn store to hear your gift card is now good for about as much as the plastic it is printed on. Yes, JoAnn cut us off from gift cards as of February 28th.

JoAnn decided to stop accepting gift cards just days after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time this year. At first, the company wanted to shutter about 500 stores, but then that number shot up to all 800 stores.

Here, where crafting is not merely a hobby but a passion, this sudden policy switch feels like a stitch in the wrong direction. Im sure a lot of people got JoAnn gift cards for the holidays, never suspecting they’d soon be as relevant as a rotary phone in a smartphone universe.

So what’s a Montana crafter to do? Some have taken to social media to air their grievances, while others are seeking other craft supply store alternatives or local shops to meet their creative needs.

Let’s pour one out for JoAnn Fabrics, a store that has been a staple of our crafting community. As we thread our way through this transition, may our needles remain sharp, our fabrics endless and our gift cards forever redeemable.