Product Review: Hemline Water Erasable Marking Pencil

I like to embroider, so I am always on the lookout for good marking pens.  When I am marking sewing lines when I am piecing, air soluble is just fine, but for the time it takes for me to get embroideries done, water soluble is the way to go. 

So I gave these babies a try: The Water Soluble Marking Pencil by Hemline

Specs

• Twist style marking pencils
• 3mm
• Blue and White options
• Cost: $1.25 apiece, when sold in the bin and not individually packaged

Pros

• They twist up so the "lead" is always protected
• Blue: Highly visible
• White: See cons
• Inexpensive
• Wash away cleanly

Cons

• They are wide enough that they are not good for detail, and they are blunt
• They deplete quickly, and the "lead" is fragile
• White: It doesn't show up very well, and wipes off very easily.  I used it on a very deep gray background and it was only barely visible _ even pressed hard enough to snap the "lead"
• Blue: Rubs off on your hands very easily, and takes a little persuasion to wash away (though it does ultimately wash away cleanly)

Conclusion
Blue: ★★★☆☆
White: ★☆☆☆☆
Overall: ★★☆☆☆

The white is terrible, to be honest.  I got rid of mine.  But the blue is pretty decent, though, I wish it didn't smudge so easily!  For $1.25 though, it is still a good buy.  Save this marking pencil for your less detailed embroideries, lettering, and sewing lines.