Lots of quilters use a small cutting mat as well as a small ironing surface to use near their sewing area. These come in handy for pressing seams and triming blocks as you sew. Check out some of the sewing rooms and you will probably see some examples. I first noticed these at retreats. To make a small ironing surface: Using a board about about (20x20 or whatever size you have)cover with batting and fabric and staple down on bottom side. Sometimes you could find an old wooden TV tray in place of board. (This way the pressing surface has it's own table.) For the large pieces you could get up and cut everything out first then stack them and sew away. Hope this is helpful.