Financial Guarantees and Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended							11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2011 Successor	Dec. 29, 2012 Successor	Sep. 29, 2012 Successor	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor	Mar. 31, 2012 Successor	Dec. 31, 2011 Successor	Oct. 01, 2011 Successor	Jul. 02, 2011 Successor	Dec. 31, 2011 Successor	Dec. 29, 2012 Successor	Jan. 28, 2011 Predecessor	Jan. 01, 2011 Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2011 PGI (Issuer) Successor	Dec. 29, 2012 PGI (Issuer) Successor	Jan. 28, 2011 PGI (Issuer) Predecessor	Jan. 01, 2011 PGI (Issuer) Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2011 Guarantors Successor	Dec. 29, 2012 Guarantors Successor	Jan. 28, 2011 Guarantors Predecessor	Jan. 01, 2011 Guarantors Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2011 Non-Guarantors Successor	Dec. 29, 2012 Non-Guarantors Successor	Jan. 28, 2011 Non-Guarantors Predecessor	Jan. 01, 2011 Non-Guarantors Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2011 Eliminations Successor	Dec. 29, 2012 Eliminations Successor	Jan. 28, 2011 Eliminations Predecessor	Jan. 01, 2011 Eliminations Predecessor
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	$ 199,037	$ 273,651	$ 290,097	$ 296,244	$ 295,171	$ 291,937	$ 315,498	$ 296,457	$ 1,102,929	$ 1,155,163	$ 84,606	$ 1,106,211	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 338,009	$ 367,548	$ 27,052	$ 340,407	$ 777,759	$ 808,134	$ 58,887	$ 782,397	$ (12,839)	$ (20,519)	$ (1,333)	$ (16,593)
Cost of goods sold									(932,523)	(957,917)	(68,531)	(896,319)	(70)	131	24	0	(296,226)	(319,537)	(22,587)	(293,071)	(649,066)	(659,030)	(47,301)	(619,841)	12,839	20,519	1,333	16,593
Gross profit	24,708	45,666	51,974	46,419	53,187	48,097	48,989	48,612	170,406	197,246	16,075	209,892	(70)	131	24	0	41,783	48,011	4,465	47,336	128,693	149,104	11,586	162,556	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses									(134,483)	(140,776)	(11,564)	(141,461)	(35,025)	(40,053)	(3,620)	(38,888)	(23,943)	(24,190)	(1,873)	(21,364)	(75,515)	(76,533)	(6,071)	(81,209)	0	0	0	0
Special charges, net									(41,345)	(19,592)	(20,824)	(17,993)	(29,316)	(8,515)	(18,944)	(8,035)	(3,102)	(2,305)	(170)	(7,372)	(8,927)	(8,772)	(1,710)	(2,586)	0	0	0	0
Acquisition and integration expenses									0	0	0	(1,742)				(160)				0				(1,582)				0
Other operating, net									(2,634)	287	564	815	(696)	5	1	0	360	264	42	389	(2,298)	18	521	426	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)									(8,056)	37,165	(15,749)	49,511	(65,107)	(48,432)	(22,539)	(47,083)	15,098	21,780	2,464	18,989	41,953	63,817	4,326	77,605	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense):
Interest expense									(46,409)	(50,414)	(1,922)	(31,728)	(38,240)	(52,090)	(1,859)	(31,768)	16,206	21,192	1,176	18,325	(24,375)	(19,516)	(1,239)	(18,285)	0	0	0	0
Intercompany royalty and technical service fees									0	0	0	0	6,543	17,097	546	6,391	7,845	(4,132)	683	7,734	(14,388)	(12,965)	(1,229)	(14,125)	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency and other, net									(18,636)	(5,134)	(82)	(1,454)	(15,478)	18,938	(28)	1,634	(718)	(18,901)	(85)	(284)	(2,440)	(5,171)	31	(2,804)	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									0	0	0	0	20,939	32,077	5,198	64,757	(19,608)	19,260	1,672	29,174	0	0	0	0	(1,331)	(51,337)	(6,870)	(93,931)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(73,101)	(18,383)	(17,753)	16,329	(91,343)	(32,410)	(18,682)	(6,069)	18,823	39,199	5,910	73,938	750	26,165	1,889	42,391	(1,331)	(51,337)	(6,870)	(93,931)
Income tax (provision) benefit									3,272	(7,655)	(549)	(4,534)	15,172	6,372	479	16,476	1,868	(5,886)	(706)	(9,000)	(13,768)	(8,141)	(322)	(12,010)	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations									(69,829)	(26,038)	(18,302)	11,795	(76,171)		(18,203)	10,407	20,691		5,204	64,938	(13,018)		1,567	30,381	(1,331)		(6,870)	(93,931)
Discontinued operations, net of tax									(6,283)	0	182	(765)	0		0	0	0		0	0	(6,283)		182	(765)	0		0	0
Net income (loss)	(36,104)	(15,033)	1,354	(12,094)	(265)	(21,421)	(9,188)	(9,399)	(76,112)	(26,038)	(18,120)	11,030	(76,171)	(26,038)	(18,203)	10,407	20,691	33,313	5,204	64,938	(19,301)	18,024	1,749	29,616	(1,331)	(51,337)	(6,870)	(93,931)
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests									59	0	83	623	0		0	0	0		0	0	59		83	623	0		0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(36,163)					(21,421)	(9,188)	(9,399)	(76,171)	(26,038)	(18,203)	10,407	(76,171)		(18,203)	10,407	20,691		5,204	64,938	(19,360)		1,666	28,993	(1,331)		(6,870)	(93,931)
Comprehensive income (loss)									$ (73,241)	$ (43,678)	$ (15,092)	$ 13,733	$ (73,300)	$ (43,678)	$ (15,175)	$ 12,855	$ 53,290	$ 17,536	$ 8,014	$ 58,963	$ (2,960)	$ 481	$ 2,107	$ 38,062	$ (50,271)	$ (18,017)	$ (10,038)	$ (96,147)