Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation	Jun. 29, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Description of Business Polymer Group, Inc. (“Polymer” or “PGI”), a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of engineered materials, primarily focused on the production of nonwoven products. The Company has one of the largest global platforms in the industry, with a total of 13 manufacturing and converting facilities located in 9 countries throughout the world. The Company operates through 4 reportable segments, with the main sources of revenue being the sales of primary and intermediate products to the hygiene, healthcare, wipes and industrial markets. Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect the consolidated operations of the Company and have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) as defined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) within the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, which include normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the consolidated results for the periods presented. The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Polymer Group, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2012. On January 28, 2011, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 4, 2010, the Company was acquired by affiliates of the Blackstone Group (“Blackstone”), along with certain members of the Company's management (the "Merger"), for an aggregate purchase price valued at $403.5 million. As a result, the Company became a privately-held company. The Merger was financed by $560.0 million in aggregate principal of debt financing as well as common equity capital. In addition, the Company repaid its existing outstanding debt. Although the Company continues to operate as the same legal entity subsequent to the Merger and related change in control, a new entity was created for accounting purposes as of January 28, 2011. As a result, the purchase price was allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair market values at the date of acquisition. Under the guidance of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5J, “New Basis of Accounting Required in Certain Circumstances,” push-down accounting is required when such transactions result in an entity being substantially wholly-owned. Therefore, the basis in shares of common stock of the Company has been "pushed down" to the Company from Scorpio Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Holdings") that owns 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of Scorpio Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent") that owns 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Company. The Company's fiscal year is based on a 52 week period ending on the Saturday closest to each December 31. Therefore, the financial results of 53-week fiscal years, and the associated 14-week quarters, will not be comparable to the prior and subsequent 52-week fiscal years and the associated quarters having only 13 weeks. The three months ended June 29, 2013 and June 30, 2012 each contain operating results for 13 weeks. The six months ended June 29, 2013 and June 30, 2012 each contain operating results for 26 weeks.