
<PAGE>

                              POLYMER GROUP, INC.
        Exhibit 12 - Calculation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

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<CAPTION> 
                                                                              Pro Forma
                                                             Pro Forma       Three Months     Three Months     Three Months
                                                            Year Ended          Ended             Ended           Ended
                                                           December 28,       March 29,         March 29,       March 30,
                                                               1996              1997             1997             1996
                                                           ------------      ------------     ------------     ------------
<S>                                                        <C>               <C>                  <C>          <C>
EARNINGS
--------
Consolidated income (loss) before
 income taxes and extraordinary item                         $30,453            $ 5,271         $ 7,415            $  (627)

Undistributed dividend income from Fabrene                         -                  -               -                  -

Share of equity loss from minority interest
 in Fabrene (27%)                                                  -                  -               -                  -

Interest                                                      37,787              9,447           7,590             11,257

Interest capitalized during period and other credits          (2,669)              (756)           (756)              (678)

Amortization of capitalized debt costs                         1,849                432             175                288
                                                             -------            -------         -------            -------
              Earnings                                       $67,420            $14,394         $14,424            $10,240
                                                             -------            -------         -------            -------
FIXED CHARGES
--------------

Interest                                                    $37,787            $ 9,447         $ 7,590            $11,257

Amortization of capitalized debt costs                        1,849                 432             175                288

Interest portion of rental expense                              -                  -                  -                  -
                                                             -------            -------         -------            -------
              Fixed charges                                  $39,636            $ 9,879         $ 7,765            $11,545
                                                             -------            -------         -------            -------

      Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (A)                     1.7                1.5             1.9                  -
                                                             =======            =======         =======            =======

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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                               Fiscal Year Ended
                                                              ----------------------------------------------------      Ten-Week
                                                              December 28,   December 30,  December 31,  January 1,   Period Ended
                                                                  1996           1995         1994         1994      January 2, 1993
                                                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                            <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>
EARNINGS
--------
Consolidated income (loss) before
 income taxes and extraordinary item                            $25,552        $(18,391)    $(14,985)      $ 5,410       $ (615)

Undistributed dividend income from Fabrene                            -               -         (246)         (340)        (113)

Share of equity loss from minority interest
 in Fabrene (27%)                                                     -               -          682           753            -

Interest                                                         36,310          39,801       13,699         4,659          915

Interest capitalized during period and other credits             (2,669)         (1,933)        (483)         (272)           -

Amortization of capitalized debt costs                            1,471           1,150          523           514           98
                                                                ---------------------------------------------------------------
              Earnings                                          $60,664        $ 20,627     $   (810)      $10,724       $  265
                                                                ---------------------------------------------------------------
FIXED CHARGES
-------------

Interest                                                        $36,310        $ 39,801     $ 13,699       $ 4,659       $  915

Amortization of capitalized debt costs                            1,471           1,150          523           514           98

Interest portion of rental expense                                    -               -            -             -            -
                                                                ---------------------------------------------------------------
              Fixed charges                                     $37,781        $ 40,951     $ 14,222       $ 5,173       $1,013
                                                                ---------------------------------------------------------------

      Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (A)                        1.6               -            -           2.1            -
                                                                =======         =======      =======       =======        =====
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(A) Fixed charges exceeded earnings for the ten-week period ended January 2,
1993, the year ended December 31, 1994, the year ended December 30, 1995 and the
three months ended March 30, 1996 by approximately $0.7 million, $15.0 million,
$20.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively. However, the Company met all
required interest payment and debt obligations during this time period.
