I have an EZ Quilter frame that is very similar to the Ken frame in your pic. I used it for about a year and quilted all sizes except for King on it. Then last October I bought a Juki 2010, with a larger throat space, and because I enjoy FMQ so much, I just quit using the frame. I didn't like to have to keep rolling and unrolling the quilt, and the space just wasn't big enough- my machine was always bumping against the rails in front and back. I'm probably the only person alive who doesn't dream of having a LA! I just really love FMQ- I've gotten pretty good at it.

Thread breaking
 

How frustrating and I know because I've been there. Check:
1 that your quilt isn't too tight - it shouldn't be so tight that you could bounce a coin on it.
2 Other thing to check is your thread tension - could be that top and/or bottom tension is set too tight.
3 What size of needle are you using? Try a 14 or 16 and see if that helps.
4 I know you say that the takeup bar isn't sitting on the machine bed, but make sure you haven't it set too high. I have a very small clearance -- the recommendation is the height of your little finger, but mine is set a bit lower than that.

I hope these tips might provide some help - do let us know how you get on. Good luck!

me too! me too! I'd love to take my short arm off the frame and onto a table! My table machine has 7.5 inches and my frame machine has 11.5 inches... sigh.

You aren't believe me. I looked at frames, and long arms, and in the end decided that my mid arm does a great job at FMQ and it sure doesn't seem to have the learning curve, the space requirements or the set up times that a long arm requires. I can puddle even the big quilts, and because my sewing table is a drop leaf, i bring it up to support the weight of the quilt as I FMQ. I did a Carpenter's Wheel recently (posted in Pictures) that was all done on the mid arm. I mark the designs with chalk as I go. Its fun!

I have the same set up Pfaff Grandquilter and 10 foot Inspira frame. Used to really hurt my back after abut 20 minutes of quilting. My DH picked up a set of those wooden blocks that you put under the legs of your bed to make it higher, and it raised everything up about 4 inches. I can now quilt for a couple of hours before the back pain kicks in.
BTW I'm 5'6", and have degenerative disc disorder, plus a little scoliosis and arthritis in my lower back - just saying that it really worked for me!
The only thing is the Inspira frame has 6 legs and I think the blocks come in sets of 4.

I have the very same machine and I love it. It was set up on a pro-flex frame, but I took it out and set in on the table again. I find the throat space too short to do any kind of patterns. I'm a Charisma wanna-be, and I envision myself making fabulous feathers just like she does, lol, but am really limited with the throat size.

Presently I am on the look out for a 12-14 inch machine. The Brother is a speedy machine, and I love it for piecing. I've done a few quilts with just meandering, but I dream of doing so much more!

Wonderful thread! I'm gleaning lots of useful information; keep 'em coming!

I don't know if anyone has suggested this yet, but you might want to try "sewers aid". It is a lubricant. I had a problem with thread breaking. I tried lots of things that didn't work. I read about sewers aid somewhere and tried it. I used to be able to get it at Hancock Fabric, but couldn't the last time I checked. I had to buy it online. It comes in a container that looks like fray check. I hope you get your problem solved soon. I know how frustrating it can be.

Checked into the handles..think I am gonna give them a try before I give up on mine. LOL I'm a Chrisma wanna be too.
There is just something about those feathers. I'm the kind of person that can usually do what I set my mind to do so this is killing me.

This is a great thread! Yesterday I tried out a HQ Sweet 16 sit down machine and boy did I enjoy myself and now I have a dilemma I want one but it is so expensive!!
If I cant have that then I am looking at the Janome 1600P -DBX..i havent tried out the Janome..has anyone used both and can give me honest feedback?
I already have a Bernina Artiste 180E so don't want a machine with fancy stitches.