I had a problem with the bottom fabric not gliding and I put a layer of thin tissue paper under it and just ripped it off when I was finished. Worked like a charm. I didn't worry about the tissue wrinkling, but to make it stay smoother, spray the tissue (not the fabric) with a little..note I said a little... spray fabric adhesive like 505 brand before you put it on the backing fabric and it will stick to the fabric till you are done then pull off.

i have the super glide i think, or something like it and it gave me fits with myh 60x60 quilt when doing free motion quilting.Since you're not doing fmq and just doing a straight stitch, can you remove the extension table from your machine. you don't really need it.
if not,hold the end of the fabric up as you feed it under theneedle. that should help. and perhaps a longer stitch too. that helps the fabric move easier.----
oh i just read about the tissue paper hint. great hint too.
i had trouble with some pieces and put paper underneath the fabric and it worked like a charm!!

I loved mine so much, I have two! It really is the best.

I know!! One of the best notions, right behind scissors and rotary cutters.

This may not help you right this minute, but this item has really improved my quilting and relieved my stiff neck and aching shoulders. It is a SewEzi table. I have no affiliation, just a very happy user. Everything glides across this table and it comes with one custom fitting plexi-glass insert for your particular machine. I saw it at a quilt show in Paducah. Didn't buy it then, but after fighting with my fabric and it never staying where it needed to be, or sliding the way I thought it should, I finally bit the bullet and bought one. You can also purchase extra inserts for each of your machines; seems like it was around $250 at that time. It comes with a rolling, lightweight carrying case. Website is www.seweziusa.com; in the meantime, the tissue paper does sound like it will work; but that's not a permanent fix for your quilting environment. Good luck with your tablerunner.

Lots of great tips given to you already.

But how about putting encyclopedia books or something else behind your extension table to keep all your work at the same height...then top with vinyl so that all your work will slide away and not drag down?

I'm fortunate enough to have a huge sewing table, 4ft x 8 ft, with my machine recessed to keep everything flat. That smooth even work space really makes a huge difference when FMQ.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

I have heard, but not tried, that you can apply car wax to your machine around the stitch plate and then remove it. It makes the surface very slippery and fabric glides smoothly through the machine. Just an idea. (I just bought the mat to put on mine for FMQ, but might try it for straight stitching.)

Sorry, I messed up.

Thanks so much for all your replies. You are all very kind and helpful. My set up is not ideal. I am sewing on the dining room table. In another year I will have a 20 x 20 bedroom free that will become my sewing room. But for now, I sew "out in the open" so I can keep a close eye on my 2 little GS who live with me. Anyhow, your ideas were wonderful and I will give them a try. Thanks!

There is a spray called 'Quilt Glide' that you can get, but there are "non-specialty" products that I have heard work just as well. Pledge spray and paste auto wax are the most frequently mentioned, but I have a friend who tried Show Sheen (it's a horse product) and I believe that worked as well. You are looking for something with silicone in it to improve the glide factor. You may want to try whatever you get on a scrap piece of acrylic to make sure it does not cloud up your table (some petroleum products can do that). Good luck.