Financial Guarantees and Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2014	Jun. 29, 2013	Jun. 28, 2014	Jun. 29, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	$ 439,898	$ 291,538	$ 862,482	$ 578,620
Cost of goods sold	(353,987)	(241,148)	(702,681)	(482,364)
Gross profit	85,911	50,390	159,801	96,256
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(65,373)	(39,371)	(120,907)	(73,713)
Special Charges Net	(24,264)	(1,750)	(32,975)	(3,554)
Other operating, net	(3,855)	(964)	(4,924)	(1,304)
Operating income (loss)	(7,581)	8,305	995	17,685
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(31,655)	(12,323)	(49,561)	(24,407)
Intercompany royalty and technical service fees	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency and other, net	10,003	(900)	14,962	(2,320)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	(29,233)	(4,918)	(33,604)	(9,042)
Income tax (provision) benefit	5,387	(2,988)	(313)	(5,091)
Net income (loss)	(23,846)	(7,906)	(33,917)	(14,133)
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,277)	0	(2,293)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(21,569)	(7,906)	(31,624)	(14,133)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(19,566)	(5,477)	(27,934)	(15,380)
PGI (Issuer)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	(93)	(11)	(130)	(36)
Gross profit	(93)	(11)	(130)	(36)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(12,101)	(14,331)	(23,030)	(23,975)
Special Charges Net	(14,972)	(471)	(18,937)	(1,826)
Other operating, net	0	16	11	18
Operating income (loss)	(27,166)	(14,797)	(42,086)	(25,819)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(24,225)	(12,246)	(44,156)	(22,474)
Intercompany royalty and technical service fees	(9,893)	1,428	(7,198)	2,756
Foreign currency and other, net	12,117	2	22,916	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	24,258	15,630	31,969	27,155
Income (loss) before income taxes	(24,909)	(9,983)	(38,555)	(18,382)
Income tax (provision) benefit	3,340	2,077	6,931	4,249
Net income (loss)	(21,569)	(7,906)	(31,624)	(14,133)
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(21,569)		(31,624)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(19,566)	(5,477)	(27,934)	(15,380)
Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	147,350	89,817	296,246	182,829
Cost of goods sold	(116,851)	(74,870)	(239,270)	(156,714)
Gross profit	30,499	14,947	56,976	26,115
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(15,404)	(6,004)	(29,440)	(11,764)
Special Charges Net	(1,681)	(103)	(2,214)	(139)
Other operating, net	(509)	(145)	299	(222)
Operating income (loss)	13,923	8,695	25,621	13,990
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(482)	3,086	6,601	6,187
Intercompany royalty and technical service fees	1,140	1,697	2,793	3,304
Foreign currency and other, net	(678)	(150)	(125)	(247)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(1,712)	1,872	(10,138)	5,690
Income (loss) before income taxes	12,191	15,200	24,752	28,924
Income tax (provision) benefit	12,166	458	7,251	(1,687)
Net income (loss)	24,357	15,658	32,003	27,237
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	24,357		32,003
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	26,562	8,930	35,706	25,035
Non-Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	308,021	206,389	594,687	405,918
Cost of goods sold	(252,516)	(170,935)	(491,732)	(335,741)
Gross profit	55,505	35,454	102,955	70,177
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(37,868)	(19,036)	(68,437)	(37,974)
Special Charges Net	(7,611)	(1,176)	(11,824)	(1,589)
Other operating, net	4,364	(835)	(5,234)	(1,100)
Operating income (loss)	5,662	14,407	17,460	29,514
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(6,948)	(3,163)	(12,006)	(8,120)
Intercompany royalty and technical service fees	8,753	(3,125)	4,405	(6,060)
Foreign currency and other, net	(1,436)	(752)	(7,829)	(2,073)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,031	7,367	2,030	13,261
Income tax (provision) benefit	(10,119)	(5,523)	(14,495)	(7,653)
Net income (loss)	(4,088)	1,844	(12,465)	5,608
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,277)		(2,293)
Net income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(1,811)		(10,172)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	1,140	(44)	(5,177)	5,339
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	(15,473)	(4,668)	(28,451)	(10,127)
Cost of goods sold	15,473	4,668	28,451	10,127
Gross profit	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Special Charges Net	0	0	0	0
Other operating, net	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Intercompany royalty and technical service fees	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency and other, net	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(22,546)	(17,502)	(21,831)	(32,845)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(22,546)	(17,502)	(21,831)	(32,845)
Income tax (provision) benefit	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(22,546)	(17,502)	(21,831)	(32,845)
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(22,546)		(21,831)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	$ (27,702)	$ (8,886)	$ (30,529)	$ (30,374)