<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-03-014721
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030709
<FILING-DATE>20030722
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ALTDORF ROLF J
<CIK>0001253691
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14330
<FILM-NUMBER>03795123
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O POLYMER GROUP INC
<STREET2>4838 JENKINS AVE
<CITY>N CHARLESTON
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29405
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>POLYMER GROUP INC
<CIK>0000927417
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2221
<IRS-NUMBER>571003983
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0103
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4838 JENKINS AVE
<CITY>NORTH CHARLESTON
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29405
<PHONE>8037445174
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4838 JENKINS AVENUE
<CITY>NORTH CHARLESTON
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29405
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd13665.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-09</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000927417</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POLYMER GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NONE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001253691</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALTDORF ROLF J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Rolf J. Altdorf</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
