I handquilt in my lap and it works just fine. I pin really well and begin in the center. It takes some practice keeping your tension but it is not hard to do. I do not use quilting "inbetweens" but use sharps which tend to work better for me when I lap quilt. I can load more and have better control. I keep one hand under at all times and am constantly checking with my fingers as to tucks, bunches etc. If your pinning is done correctly, ie: tight back, and lots of pins, it should be no problem.