I work in a custom drapery workroom and all our cutting tables are made with hemosate (SP?) which is techically underlayment for floors. It works really good for pinning and you can even iron on it. We also have a few ironing tables that has this as the base and then batting over that with drapery lining (like muslin) pulled taunt over it. You can buy the hemosate (sp?) at Home Depot 4' X 6' sheets I believe for around $24.00. My husband is going to build me one in our basement.
HTH
Sara :-)