When I quilted on my dining room table, I used books covered in vinyl sold by the yard. Just cut a hole for the presser foot area. Then I tried some styrofoam packing. I do find it easier to be higher - a kitchen stool works. I do have fibro and several arthritises. I use a FMQ foot. Mine came from aprils1930shoppe as I quilt on a slant needle Singer 301, which is now set in a table (Kenmore for $5 from Salvation Army). I think the foot is your problem. A regular foot would put continual pressure on your quilt and inhibit moving it easily. For me gloves are too hot. I use scraps of grippy underlayment sold for throw rugs.