<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-03-035386
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031211
<FILING-DATE>20031212
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ALTDORF ROLF J
<CIK>0001253691
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14330
<FILM-NUMBER>031051437
</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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd24603.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-11</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <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>POLYMER GROUP, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4055 FABER PLACE DRIVE, SUITE 201</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH CHARLESTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29405</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option to Purchase Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-11</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The options will vest in four equal annual installments, subject to achievement of performance measures, beginning on December 31, 2004, subject to earlier vesting (time portion only) upon a change of control.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Options granted pursuant to Rule 16b-3</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Rolf J. Altdorf</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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