Financial Guarantees and Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 11, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net	$ 498,013	$ 288,979	$ 1,360,495	$ 867,599
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	35,447		35,447			13,797
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	62,258		62,258			62,191
Liabilities	1,988,273		1,988,273			1,304,781
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	93,645		93,645		92,990	0
Liabilities, Current	364,068		364,068			328,955
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	182,683	74,678	182,683	74,678		86,064	97,879
Accounts receivable, net	262,074		262,074			194,827
Inventories, net	182,205		182,205			156,074
Deferred income taxes	9,672		9,672			2,318
Other current assets	88,949		88,949			59,096
Total current assets	725,583		725,583			498,379
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $223,653 and $175,159, respectively	989,389		989,389			652,780
Goodwill	201,987		201,987			115,328
Intangible assets, net	171,753		171,753			169,399
Net investment in and advances to (from) subsidiaries	0		0			0
Deferred income taxes	3,621		3,621			2,582
Other noncurrent assets	35,283		35,283			26,052
Total assets	2,127,616		2,127,616			1,464,520
Common stock	0		0			0
Total Polymer Group, Inc. shareholders' equity	45,057		45,057			158,896
Noncontrolling interest	641		641			843
Total equity	45,698		45,698			159,739
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity	2,127,616		2,127,616			1,464,520
Short-term borrowings	15,802		15,802			2,472
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities	1,440,130		1,440,130			880,399
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	77,026		77,026			33,236
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current	311,340		311,340			307,731
Accrued Income Taxes, Current	471		471			3,613
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Current	1,008		1,008			1,342
Cost of Goods Sold	417,521	240,779	1,118,952	723,143
Gross Profit	80,492	48,200	241,543	144,456
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	65,796	33,463	185,499	107,176
Special Charges Net	(14,893)	(7,093)	(47,868)	(10,647)
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	(2,266)	671	2,658	1,975
Operating income (loss):	2,069	6,973	5,518	24,658
Interest Expense	28,782	13,185	67,605	37,592
Intercompany Royalty and Technical Service Fees Net	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency and other, net	(26,588)	2,298	(11,626)	(22)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	(58,288)	(3,914)	(89,438)	(12,956)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(1,137)	4,353	(850)	9,444
Net income (loss)	(57,151)	(8,267)	(88,588)	(22,400)
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest and redeemable noncontrolling interest	(1,923)	0	(4,216)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(55,228)	(8,267)	(84,372)	(22,400)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(87,958)	(3,272)	(113,412)	(18,652)
PGI (Issuer)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net	46	0	46	0
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	7,142		7,142			3,039
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	494		494			1,810
Liabilities	1,458,138		1,458,138			893,879
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	93,645		93,645
Liabilities, Current	43,119		43,119			40,328
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	4,026	1,535	4,026	1,535		2,068	486
Accounts receivable, net	0		0			0
Inventories, net	(837)		(837)			0
Deferred income taxes	385		385			385
Other current assets	10,120		10,120			1,887
Total current assets	13,694		13,694			4,340
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $223,653 and $175,159, respectively	4,237		4,237			2,756
Goodwill	0		0			0
Intangible assets, net	36,489		36,489			31,525
Net investment in and advances to (from) subsidiaries	1,542,131		1,542,131			1,013,856
Deferred income taxes	0		0			0
Other noncurrent assets	289		289			298
Total assets	1,596,840		1,596,840			1,052,775
Common stock	0		0			0
Total Polymer Group, Inc. shareholders' equity	45,057		45,057			158,896
Noncontrolling interest	0		0			0
Total equity	45,057		45,057			158,896
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity	1,596,840		1,596,840			1,052,775
Short-term borrowings	119		119			410
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities	1,413,551		1,413,551			850,767
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	974		974			974
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current	35,619		35,619			36,510
Accrued Income Taxes, Current	239		239			369
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Current	0		0			0
Cost of Goods Sold	93	93	223	129
Gross Profit	(47)	(93)	(177)	(129)
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	14,412	9,078	37,442	33,053
Special Charges Net	(3,886)	(6,539)	(22,823)	(8,364)
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	(146)	(36)	(157)	(55)
Operating income (loss):	(18,199)	(15,674)	(60,285)	(41,491)
Interest Expense	20,569	14,800	53,987	37,274
Intercompany Royalty and Technical Service Fees Net	(2,301)	(1,425)	4,898	(4,181)
Foreign currency and other, net	(6,803)	2,815	16,114	2,815
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(12,803)	15,695	21,647	42,848
Income (loss) before income taxes	(58,685)	(10,539)	(94,759)	(28,921)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(3,457)	(2,272)	(10,387)	(6,521)
Net income (loss)	(55,228)	(8,267)	(84,372)	(22,400)
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest and redeemable noncontrolling interest	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(55,228)		(84,372)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(87,958)	(3,272)	(113,412)	(18,652)
Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net	145,542	93,021	441,790	275,850
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	0		0			0
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	26,994		26,994			31,718
Liabilities	96,058		96,058			106,211
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	0		0
Liabilities, Current	59,438		59,438			61,950
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	112,897	11,975	112,897	11,975		13,103	28,285
Accounts receivable, net	43,990		43,990			46,828
Inventories, net	50,697		50,697			46,428
Deferred income taxes	2,438		2,438			2,438
Other current assets	10,838		10,838			12,696
Total current assets	220,860		220,860			121,493
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $223,653 and $175,159, respectively	205,007		205,007			207,256
Goodwill	55,999		55,999			54,683
Intangible assets, net	120,011		120,011			125,146
Net investment in and advances to (from) subsidiaries	473,936		473,936			615,314
Deferred income taxes	0		0			0
Other noncurrent assets	9,383		9,383			8,869
Total assets	1,085,196		1,085,196			1,132,761
Common stock	0		0			0
Total Polymer Group, Inc. shareholders' equity	989,138		989,138			1,026,550
Noncontrolling interest	0		0			0
Total equity	989,138		989,138			1,026,550
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity	1,085,196		1,085,196			1,132,761
Short-term borrowings	0		0			0
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities	0		0			0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	9,626		9,626			12,543
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current	58,817		58,817			61,950
Accrued Income Taxes, Current	769		769			0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Current	(148)		(148)			0
Cost of Goods Sold	117,548	77,996	354,160	234,710
Gross Profit	27,994	15,025	87,630	41,140
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	13,534	6,060	41,994	17,824
Special Charges Net	(229)	(37)	(2,443)	(176)
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	(96)	92	(395)	313
Operating income (loss):	14,327	8,836	43,588	22,827
Interest Expense	(2,806)	(6,924)	(9,406)	(13,111)
Intercompany Royalty and Technical Service Fees Net	(1,150)	(1,681)	(3,943)	(4,985)
Foreign currency and other, net	979	(5)	854	(252)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(27,303)	989	(25,764)	6,679
Income (loss) before income taxes	(8,041)	18,425	32,027	47,350
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	4,818	2,815	10,403	4,502
Net income (loss)	(12,859)	15,610	21,624	42,848
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest and redeemable noncontrolling interest	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(12,859)		21,624
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(45,806)	23,413	(7,620)	48,449
Non-Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net	352,150	201,840	946,836	607,758
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	28,305		28,305			10,758
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	79,561		79,561			28,663
Liabilities	436,900		436,900			307,513
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	0		0
Liabilities, Current	260,363		260,363			225,529
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	65,760	61,168	65,760	61,168		70,893	69,108
Accounts receivable, net	218,084		218,084			147,999
Inventories, net	132,345		132,345			109,646
Deferred income taxes	9,672		9,672			2,318
Other current assets	67,991		67,991			44,513
Total current assets	493,852		493,852			375,369
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $223,653 and $175,159, respectively	780,145		780,145			442,768
Goodwill	145,988		145,988			60,645
Intangible assets, net	15,253		15,253			12,728
Net investment in and advances to (from) subsidiaries	(843,583)		(843,583)			(363,414)
Deferred income taxes	3,621		3,621			2,582
Other noncurrent assets	25,611		25,611			16,885
Total assets	620,887		620,887			547,563
Common stock	16,966		16,966			16,966
Total Polymer Group, Inc. shareholders' equity	166,380		166,380			222,241
Noncontrolling interest	641		641			843
Total equity	183,987		183,987			240,050
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity	620,887		620,887			547,563
Short-term borrowings	15,683		15,683			2,062
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities	26,579		26,579			29,632
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	70,397		70,397			23,689
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current	216,904		216,904			209,271
Accrued Income Taxes, Current	(537)		(537)			3,244
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Current	8		8			194
Cost of Goods Sold	299,605	168,572	792,746	504,313
Gross Profit	52,545	33,268	154,090	103,445
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	37,850	18,325	106,063	56,299
Special Charges Net	(10,778)	(517)	(22,602)	(2,107)
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	(2,024)	615	3,210	1,717
Operating income (loss):	5,941	13,811	22,215	43,322
Interest Expense	11,019	5,309	23,024	13,429
Intercompany Royalty and Technical Service Fees Net	3,451	3,106	(955)	9,166
Foreign currency and other, net	(20,764)	(512)	(28,594)	(2,585)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	(31,668)	4,884	(30,823)	18,142
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(2,498)	3,810	(866)	11,463
Net income (loss)	(29,170)	1,074	(29,957)	6,679
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest and redeemable noncontrolling interest	(1,923)		(4,216)
Net income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(27,247)		(25,741)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	(51,084)	1,603	(44,583)	6,939
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net	275	(5,882)	(28,177)	(16,009)
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	0		0			0
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	0		0			0
Liabilities	(2,823)		(2,823)			(2,822)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	0		0
Liabilities, Current	1,148		1,148			1,148
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0		0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0		0			0
Inventories, net	0		0			0
Deferred income taxes	(2,823)		(2,823)			(2,823)
Other current assets	0		0			0
Total current assets	(2,823)		(2,823)			(2,823)
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $223,653 and $175,159, respectively	0		0			0
Goodwill	0		0			0
Intangible assets, net	0		0			0
Net investment in and advances to (from) subsidiaries	(1,172,484)		(1,172,484)			(1,265,756)
Deferred income taxes	0		0			0
Other noncurrent assets	0		0			0
Total assets	(1,175,307)		(1,175,307)			(1,268,579)
Common stock	(16,966)		(16,966)			(16,966)
Total Polymer Group, Inc. shareholders' equity	(1,155,518)		(1,155,518)			(1,248,791)
Noncontrolling interest	0		0			0
Total equity	(1,172,484)		(1,172,484)			(1,265,757)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity	(1,175,307)		(1,175,307)			(1,268,579)
Short-term borrowings	0		0			0
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities	0		0			0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	(3,971)		(3,971)			(3,970)
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current	0		0			0
Accrued Income Taxes, Current	0		0			0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Current	1,148		1,148			1,148
Cost of Goods Sold	275	(5,882)	(28,177)	(16,009)
Gross Profit	0	0	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Special Charges Net	0	0	0	0
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss):	0	0	0	0
Interest Expense	0	0	0	0
Intercompany Royalty and Technical Service Fees Net	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency and other, net	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	40,106	(16,684)	4,117	(49,527)
Income (loss) before income taxes	40,106	(16,684)	4,117	(49,527)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	40,106	(16,684)	4,117	(49,527)
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest and redeemable noncontrolling interest	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	40,106		4,117
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Polymer Group, Inc.	96,890	(25,016)	52,203	(55,388)
Maximum
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	107,049		107,049
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	$ 93,645		$ 93,645