I have a folding step stool and that is what I sit on when I use my 1500 Brother to piece or quilt. I can reach the foot pedal easily too until it slides away to far, even though I have a piece of that drawer stuff under it, but I just use both feet and drag it back into the right position. I use a 6ft. folding table. My surround is so slippery that I have no use for the expensive slider I bought. It was more trouble than it was worth.