I like Leah Days' method. See her blog at www.freemotionquilting.blogspot.com
She says to make sure your chair/sewing machine is on a table that is against a wall. That way the wall stops the quilt from hanging off the table and dragging. Also have a table the same height to the left of the machine table, also against a wall to take the bulk of the quilt while you're working on it.
Yes this means you are facing into a corner, but it sure works!