Ooops, you said quilting AWAY from you and I meant that I use my thumbnail to quilt away from me, not towards me. I prefer towards or away, side to side going away from me is the hardest so I scoot my chair along so that I'm actually quilting towards me (if you see what I mean).
I also use a swivel office arm chair on wheels. Being able to adjust the height in a second is nice too. If my back aches from too long in one position I can change it.