Financial Guarantees and Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2011 Predecessor	Dec. 28, 2013 Successor	Sep. 28, 2013 Successor	Jun. 29, 2013 Successor	Mar. 30, 2013 Successor	Dec. 29, 2012 Successor	Sep. 29, 2012 Successor	Jun. 30, 2012 Successor	Mar. 31, 2012 Successor	Dec. 31, 2011 Successor	Dec. 28, 2013 Successor	Dec. 29, 2012 Successor	Jan. 28, 2011 PGI (Issuer) Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2011 PGI (Issuer) Successor	Dec. 28, 2013 PGI (Issuer) Successor	Dec. 29, 2012 PGI (Issuer) Successor	Jan. 28, 2011 Guarantors Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2011 Guarantors Successor	Dec. 28, 2013 Guarantors Successor	Dec. 29, 2012 Guarantors Successor	Jan. 28, 2011 Non-Guarantors Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2011 Non-Guarantors Successor	Dec. 28, 2013 Non-Guarantors Successor	Dec. 29, 2012 Non-Guarantors Successor	Jan. 28, 2011 Eliminations Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2011 Eliminations Successor	Dec. 28, 2013 Eliminations Successor	Dec. 29, 2012 Eliminations Successor
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	$ 84,606	$ 347,263	$ 288,979	$ 291,538	$ 287,082	$ 273,651	$ 290,097	$ 296,244	$ 295,171	$ 1,102,929	$ 1,214,862	$ 1,155,163	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 27,052	$ 338,009	$ 392,212	$ 367,548	$ 58,887	$ 777,759	$ 844,997	$ 808,134	$ (1,333)	$ (12,839)	$ (22,347)	$ (20,519)
Cost of goods sold	(68,531)									(932,523)	(1,018,456)	(957,917)	24	(70)	(103)	131	(22,587)	(296,226)	(334,032)	(319,537)	(47,301)	(649,066)	(706,668)	(659,030)	1,333	12,839	22,347	20,519
Gross profit	16,075	51,950	48,200	50,390	45,866	45,666	51,974	46,419	53,187	170,406	196,406	197,246	24	(70)	(103)	131	4,465	41,783	58,180	48,011	11,586	128,693	138,329	149,104	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(11,564)									(134,483)	(153,412)	(140,776)	(3,620)	(35,025)	(44,835)	(40,053)	(1,873)	(23,943)	(28,968)	(24,190)	(6,071)	(75,515)	(79,609)	(76,533)	0	0	0	0
Special charges, net	(20,824)									(41,345)	(33,188)	(19,592)	(18,944)	(29,316)	(22,080)	(8,515)	(170)	(3,102)	(1,381)	(2,305)	(1,710)	(8,927)	(9,727)	(8,772)	0	0	0	0
Other operating, net	564									(2,634)	(2,512)	287	1	(696)	34	5	42	360	(442)	264	521	(2,298)	(2,104)	18	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	(15,749)									(8,056)	7,294	37,165	(22,539)	(65,107)	(66,984)	(48,432)	2,464	15,098	27,389	21,780	4,326	41,953	46,889	63,817	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(1,922)									(46,409)	(55,974)	(50,414)	(1,859)	(38,240)	(51,558)	(52,090)	1,176	16,206	14,655	21,192	(1,239)	(24,375)	(19,071)	(19,516)	0	0	0	0
Intercompany royalty and technical service fees	0									0	0	0	546	6,543	20,405	17,097	683	7,845	(4,445)	(4,132)	(1,229)	(14,388)	(15,960)	(12,965)	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency and other, net	(82)									(18,636)	(12,185)	(5,134)	(28)	(15,478)	(2,959)	18,938	(85)	(718)	(246)	(18,901)	31	(2,440)	(8,980)	(5,171)	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0									0	0	0	5,198	20,939	50,968	32,077	1,672	(19,608)	(1,179)	19,260	0	0	0	0	(6,870)	(1,331)	(49,789)	(51,337)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(17,753)									(73,101)	(60,865)	(18,383)	(18,682)	(91,343)	(50,128)	(32,410)	5,910	18,823	36,174	39,199	1,889	750	2,878	26,165	(6,870)	(1,331)	(49,789)	(51,337)
Income tax (provision) benefit	(549)									3,272	22,593	(7,655)	479	15,172	11,890	6,372	(706)	1,868	14,745	(5,886)	(322)	(13,768)	(4,042)	(8,141)	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(18,302)									(69,829)	(38,272)	(26,038)	(18,203)	(76,171)			5,204	20,691			1,567	(13,018)			(6,870)	(1,331)
Discontinued operations, net of tax	182									(6,283)	0	0	0	0			0	0			182	(6,283)			0	0
Net income (loss)	(18,120)	(15,872)	(8,267)	(7,906)	(6,227)	(15,033)	1,354	(12,094)	(265)	(76,112)	(38,272)	(26,038)	(18,203)	(76,171)	(38,238)	(26,038)	5,204	20,691	50,919	33,313	1,749	(19,301)	(1,164)	18,024	(6,870)	(1,331)	(49,789)	(51,337)
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	83									59	(34)	0	0	0	0		0	0	0		83	59	(34)		0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(18,203)	(15,838)	(8,267)	(7,906)	(6,227)					(76,171)	(38,238)	(26,038)	(18,203)	(76,171)	(38,238)		5,204	20,691	50,919		1,666	(19,360)	(1,130)		(6,870)	(1,331)	(49,789)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (15,175)									$ (73,362)	$ (31,575)	$ (43,678)	$ (15,175)	$ (73,300)	$ (31,575)	$ (43,678)	$ 8,014	$ 53,290	$ 61,378	$ 17,536	$ 2,024	$ (3,081)	$ (810)	$ 481	$ (10,038)	$ (50,271)	$ (60,568)	$ (18,017)