Kitsy, I think the buttonholer moves the cloth back and forth, so the needle can remain stationery. As I recall, my mom used it on her old machine which was pre-zig-zag. Do you have the manual? That should tell you. They also made it for Kenmore, too. Just a different label for each brand, or sometimes a different color, or shape to the casing. My dad was a toolmaker, so he worked on the machines that made it back in the 50's-60's. Wish he were still around for more details. Greist was taken over by MITE Corp. at some point. That factory was where my dad introduced me to the "nice guy" Dad thought I should meet. Forty-five years later, he's still right. But I'm wandering again, aren't I?