I wanted to add to what I wrote before after talking to my quilting buddies who are full-timers. They all said to tell you that "where there's a will there's a way"
. None of us would give up our beloved hobby just because we're in a smaller space, but we all do things a bit differently.
I loathe sewing on plastic tables like the ones in the clubhouse or in the churches my guild uses, and I don't think the vibration is good for the machine, so when forced to use one of those tables, I always put a mat under my machine...I think the ones in WM are sold as mats to use when standing at the kitchen sink. They are fairly thick and rubbery. One more thing to drag around with me as sometimes I have to take my machine for a class. Otherwise it lives at home in its table. As I said, I would not give up my Sew-Ezi table-it folds up and travels in the bedroom closet; when we're going to be somewhere for several days, I set it up and sew as much as I can. I think I said my neighbor in a motorhome sets hers up at the end of the dining table, the lady down the street in a fifth-wheel sets her up in front of the sofa, which doesn't get used much for sitting as they both want to sit in recliners.
The gal in the motorhome also has a Sweet Sixteen. When she's ready to use it to quilt, she puts away the Sew-Ezi table and sets up the SS by the dining table.
Those big plastic tables are good, though, for cutting and sandwiching. My guild has several sets of 12" sections of pvc pipe that we put on the legs to make them a better height for most people for cutting and/or sandwiching. Several of us here in the rv park bought our own pvc pieces to use with the tables here-instead of buying long pieces of pipe and cutting it, we got pieces already 12" long with a molded "flange" thing on one end (so they sit flat on carpet). I can never think what they are called but are sold in the plumbing dept at Lowes near the lengths of pvc pipe.
I have a folding plastic table-someone asked about size and why that model. When I bought mine, about 10 years ago, I think it was the only size available, but it was then and still is perfect for my needs. When folded, it is 24" square-stands on end in the storage bay under our trailer when we're on the road. Open, it is 24x48. It has 3 heights...with a tablecloth and at highest height, it is perfect for serving at potlucks and fish frys. Inside, I've used it at various heights to cut, lay out, sandwich, or mark quilts.
I do use the bed sometimes as a design "wall", but it can be tricky-I've had the ac come on and blow pieces around
, so that's not my favorite option. One friend made buttonholes along the edge of a flannel-backed tablecloth so she can hang it from Command hooks she stuck up over the bedroom closet doors. I use a lot of different sizes of foam core boards with batting stuck to them for laying out blocks-they are easily portable and most of mine fit into big zip lock bags. My favorite place, though, to lay out blocks, is the floor. Smaller quilts I can do on the floor in our living "room" area; otherwise, I use the clubhouse floor, laying blocks on the back of a flannel-backed tablecloth or a piece of batting-they roll up and can be tucked behind chairs until ready to be sewn, then unrolled a little at a time to sew a row or column.
One of the laundry rooms here has one of the same large white plastic tables that are in the clubhouse. When the clubhouse is in use by other groups, or when I'm waiting for the washer or dryer, I have used that table for cutting; the plus with that is there is an ironing board and iron right there for me to use.
Most of us store and transport our projects in tote bags. If you're like the rest of us, you have a zillion of them, so each project has its own bag which can go in a closet or behind a chair. From sad experience, however, I've learned not to store anything in the under-trailer storage bays unless it's in a plastic container with a snap-on lid. These protect fabric, supplies, and projects from water leaks and rodents that want to move in and travel with us
.
I have cut, pieced, sewn, and quilted many quilts of all sizes (including king) in our trailers in the years we've been on the road. It is not as easy or convenient as it was in a house with a large cutting table and lots of storage space, but IS doable, so don't give up. Let us know if you have any other specific questions.
Margaret