I also use my ironing board to the left of the machine....it gives me the necessary and temporary space to hold it up without pulling.....once I get one side done and around the corner, I get up and totally re-arrange the quilt so the sewing side is completely free and easy to manage.....I've completed several king sized quilts, from the piecing to the fmq on my Janome 6600, so it can be done (maybe not as good as LA, but done).