And now for our Readers Choice Award for Best Top of 2011! The top with the most reader votes from our final voting round goes to Shelby G for her Miss Eliza Bennet Top!

Shelby’s use of the floral fabric on top with the green sash is just wonderful. And you all know I’m a huge fan of the empire waist. I know many of you fell in love with this top as it swept the vote on in the first round of voting and captured 34% of the reader vote in the final round! Congratulations Shelby!!!

Shelby, Novita, and our three other finalists, Ruby, Nikki, and Amanda…

I’m happy to be able to announce our winners today! First up we have our Judge’s Choice Award, which goes to Novita of Very Purple Person for her Broken Stripes Top:

This top is a perfect example of how the baggy style which is so popular right now can look absolutely perfect! Novita’s nailed it here with a top that is perfectly proportioned and shows how prints can have just the right amount of bang when used correctly. I especially love it paired with the navy shorts with just a tiny bit of lace. Perfect! Congratulations Novita!!!

Today’s a double whammy for Novita…

The problem was that although that wide-necked baggy style is tre chic right now, the simple fact is that it does not look good on me. It’s really not the most flattering unless you possess waifish qualities. And…

I like this shot for some reason, blurry and unmade up.

Those of you who have followed this blog for awhile have already seen this top in its previous form (right here). I started this one last summer at the Weekend Sewing Workshop in Vermont (btw, am going to Heather’s NEW YORK workshop this fall, am SO excited!!!) and by the time I left it was mostly finished but not hemmed. It sat in my closet all winter while I deliberated…

It’s been a fun week showing you so many fantastic tops! I hope you were encouraged to go and sew something for yourself.

Now it’s time to reveal the final four tops with the highest score from each day. To recap, a panel of 13 judges scored each and every top that was entered in our Spring Top Sewalong Pool before the deadline (the pool is still open now for fun, so feel free to keep adding your selfish-sewing projects!). The 48 tops with the highest scores were voted on each day this week; today and tomorrow you’re going to vote to pick a winner!

One of the things that made me the happiest about this week’s voting was that…

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Wow! Thanks for all of the comments on yesterday’s ivory knit top! It really goes to show that I can never predict how something will go over. Honestly I thought it would be too underwhelming, being so basic. I even thought about not posting it. Hah. Well, I tell you what: I am definitely going to make another one and put a waistband on it so I have two! Didn’t even occur to me to wear it with a belt (sans waistband)! You guys are awesome. 

Sewing with solids initially seems a little boring to me but there

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LEFT chambray autumn tunic by suzy, CENTER Wraparound Maternity Top by Laura, RIGHT Flowery button-down by Nicole

LEFT The Miss Eliza Bennet by Shelby…

It’s time to reveal my next Spring Top! Thanks for all the top love yesterday by the way! I’m so glad you all liked it so much! Maybe you’ll like this one too:

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LEFT Autumn top by Cate, CENTER Polka dot sailboat blouse by Katarina, RIGHT Split Sleeve & Split Season Favorite by Ginger