You really shouldn't be FMQ'ing without a foot. Not only is it not safe, the foot supports the fabric and needle so that you don't pull and bend the needle, causing it to break on the feed plate...as yours did. There are needles on the market with just a spring. I have one and don't use it. Really, you need a proper foot. They're only a few bucks. Glad you figured it out, though if your needle hit something that hard to unseat it, you probably need a new one.