Last month on TLC I watched a show called "Best Food Ever" and they were discussing bakeries. One of the bakeries was Miss Muff'n Bakery in Germantown, TN. In the episode they show a little of how they work with their buttercream so that it almost looks like fondant. Something about using a very, very soft cloth. Did anyone else see it or know about that particular technique?

Sounds like the viva paper towel method to m e.

My aunt mentioned it to me, it sounds like the viva method but with a cloth instead. I went to Lowes the other day, and coincidently walk by an isle with different type of paper towels and what look like rags, all without pattern, and I was wondering if those were the rags they used... Anyways, I prefer the viva than the clothe b/c like that I can throw it away when I am done, I don't feel comfortable washing a cloth a then using it on the cake.... even if I wash it with super hot water ... just my opinion..

I'll still would like to know what she used

Yes, I watched that also. You can get the same effect by using Viva paper towels & they are disposable which seems more sanitary than using cloth over & over again.

No not the viva method. I know about that. The decorator had a small cloth bundled up (similar to how you do cornstarch for dusting countertops, etc. when working with fondant.) I remember her saying that it was a very, very soft cloth, but it went by so fast that I couldn't get a really good look at it. I've checked the tv listings to see if they are going to run it again so I could record it and watch it to figure it out.

Oh, well...I sent an email to the shop asking about it. Maybe they will share

Yeah, I heard that too, I am not a fan of the technique, I still prefer the viva.
Edna

I use the viva all the time too, but the thought of a new technique just gets me crazy. I LOVE learning new things and this just has me wanting to know HOW

It just looked like a soft cloth folded over several times, so it was thick. Wonder what buttercream recipe she uses...

I find the sponge roller the fastest and best.

Sounded more like rolled buttercream to me, but I didn't see the vidoe

Hmmm... I keep pitcuring lint from the cloth getting into the icing.

A student in my class at michaels, showed us how they did it at a bakery she worked at. This was a couple years ago. she used , what you put in collars or sleeves or lapels when sewing. Can't ,t think of the name. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. SHINY LIKE FONDANT. Got me some, but never used it. This stuff comes in different thickness . She used medium. This might be what you are talking about. can you think of what this might be ?

interfacing

You hold the roller and roll it over well-crusted buttercream. It's really that simple.

I pulled a video from youtube and watched someone rolling butter cream with a sponged roller. I'm going to give it a try.
About 10 years ago, I watched someone use the Viva towel method. It makes the cake pretty neat looking. I didn't like the texture then, but now, seeing as fondant cakes have become all the rage, I'm thinking of trying it with my buttercream cakes.

With the roller, do you use a high density roller?

I hope I don't get booted off the site for sending an off site video: this is what I found
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i would Love to get a hold of some of those foam rollers.

You can find the sponge rollers at any store that sells paint. Home Depot, Lowes etc.

The Melvira method http://cakecentral.com/articles/126/quick-easy-smooth-icing-using-a-roller-melvira-method

I havetried a dozen differnt BC's finally just got sams BC, when I first started I had found one that crusted great, and I could viva it, actually, I used copy paper. But literly, this entire year I cant. I've had to resort to hot spatula, they all look like crap, and I cant get them smooth. the BC will just lift RIGHT off. Even with the spatula being hot, I cant get them smooth. I am fed up. Hubby has told me to just go with all fondant, because its so bad-

I dont know if its my humidity, or what. I have tried leaving them for various lengths of time, from 15 minutes to hours, freezing them for minutes to hours, cooling in the fridge, you name it I've tried it. I am about to give SMOOTH up. I wish I hadnt lost that recipe. I know it was butter and crisco. I tried all sorts of combo's of that, then tried all crisco, tried Indydebis, tried a few others. thats when I got the sams BC. Still cant get it to crust good.

I'm new to all this and a newbie here. Could you tell me what a sponge roller is? I've been looking for something to make my icing look like fondant and shiney. I'm finding that as I smooth the icing it's drying out. Does anyone have any suggestions. I don't want to change the buttercream recipe it's the one they requested. Any and all help appreciated

I saw that show and actually DVR'd it. I emailed her and she got back to me in about 4 days! She was so nice and said they used a soft lint free cotton cloth to get it smooth. I also noticed she used what looked like a metal scraper to go around the cake to smooth before it crusts! She was very kind to share this info in her email.

a sponge roller... like what you paint the walls with. You use a high density foam roller. Check out the link for Melvira's method above your post and you'll understand.