Having a sewing surface the same level as your machine is the most important step. The bigger the better. The one bigsister has is fine. I have a desk with a hole in for my machine. My SIL made one for the other machine with left over flooring.
The next important is to be able to grip your quilt. Quilting gloves have been suggested. If you want to try that you can use the latex gloves that you get by the hundred used for serving food. It doesn't matter if they have holes in them. You just need sticky fingers.
Are you sure your quilt is basted well? I used to use pins (now I use glue), but the pins acted as little handles to "get a grip on it".