Sharon Schamber recommends a harder surface for quilting. She has several Youtube videos where she shows how to make your own pressing surface. My dh made a plywood platform for my ironing board so I have a larger surface to press (love it!). We covered the plywood with a layer of Warm and Natural batting and a layer of duck cloth over that. Works great. Here is a link to one of Sharon Schamber's videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LGbXou_u4c