Are you looking for an inexpensive sewing machine with a lot of built-in stitches ? Then Sunbeam SB700 might suit you. It is not without limitations though.
Sunbeam SB700 Features
- 70 built-in stitches
- Twin needle sewing
- Free arm
- Adjustable stitch length and width
Sunbeam SB700 Review
Sewing Machine Reviews Recommendation Level : MODERATE
Sunbeam is not as popular as Brother or Singer, as a sewing machine brand. They only have a handful of sewing machine models in the U.S market. SB700 is a 70 stitch beginners machine. It is a mechanical sewing machine. It doesn’t have a lot of features to boast off. You can call it a basic sewing machine. There is an option to adjust the stitch width and length with the help of dials. The machine is free arm capable as well. The option to adjust the presser foot pressure is not something that you normally get on inexpensive sewing machines like this, but SB700 has this feature.
Usability
First thing to notice, Sunbeam SB700 is incredibly light. It weighs just 10 pounds, so you must expect almost all parts to be made of plastic (honestly speaking, it will be too much to expect a heavy-duty machine at this price). For the price, the variety of stitches are pretty good. All the stitches you need for quilting is present on this machine. The stitch quality is consistent and there is not a lot to worry about. The reinforce stitch option is a handy feature. SB700 comes with twin needle sewing. 3 needle positions are also there. The carry handle makes it portable. The machine is easy to thread as well.
Limitations
Sunbeam SB700 seems to struggle with multiple layers of denim. Anything over 2 layers of denim, seems to be hard to handle.
The front loading bobbin is a huge let down, especially from the point of view of beginners.
No option to drop feed dogs for free motion quilting.
The user manual requires a lot of improvement.
Pros
- Good variety of built-in stitches for the price
- Portable
- Decent stitch quality
- Extremely lightweight and portable
Cons
- Struggles with multiple layers of denim
- No drop-in bobbin
- No drop feed dog lever
Is It Worth Buying ?
In simple words : Buy Sunbeam SB700 if you want a good variety of stitches and don’t really want to spend too much money. Honestly, the variety of stitches is the only thing that tempts me. Other than the stitches, there are so many limiting factors that might work against this machine.
If you are looking for an inexpensive sewing machine with a lot of computerized features like automatic needle threader, 1-step buttonhole and drop-in bobbin, you can have a look at Brother XM2701. Currently, XM2701 is few dollars cheaper than Sunbeam SB700. It is the best product release by Brother in the year 2014. But the Brother machine has only 27 built-in stitches though.