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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.4


                      2001 POLYMER GROUP STOCK OPTION PLAN


1. PURPOSE.

         This plan shall be known as the 2001 Polymer Group Stock Option Plan
(the "Plan"). The purpose of the Plan shall be to promote the long-term growth
and profitability of the Polymer Group, Inc. (the "Company") and its
Subsidiaries by (i) providing certain directors, officers and employees of, and
certain other individuals to whom an offer of employment has been extended by,
the Company and its Subsidiaries with incentives to maximize stockholder value
and otherwise contribute to the success of the Company and (ii) enabling the
Company to attract, retain and reward the best available persons for positions
of responsibility. Grants of incentive or non-qualified stock options, stock
appreciation rights ("SARs"), either alone or in tandem with options, restricted
stock, performance awards, or any combination of the foregoing may be made under
the Plan.

2. DEFINITIONS.

         (a) "BOARD OF DIRECTORS" and "BOARD" mean the board of directors of the
Company.

         (b) "CAUSE" means the occurrence of one or more of the following
events:

                  (i) Conviction of a felony or any crime or offense lesser than
a felony involving the property of the Company or a Subsidiary; or

                  (ii) Conduct that has caused demonstrable and serious injury
to the Company or a Subsidiary, monetary or otherwise; or

                  (iii) Willful refusal to perform or substantial disregard of
duties properly assigned, as determined by the Company; or

                  (iv) Other act of fraud or dishonesty with respect to the
Company or a Subsidiary.

         (c) "CHANGE IN CONTROL" means the occurrence of one of the following
events:

                  (i) if any "person" or "group" as those terms are used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act or any successors thereto, other
than an Exempt Person, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto), directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting
power of the Company's then outstanding securities; or


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                  (ii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals
who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new directors
whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's
stockholders was approved by at least two-thirds of the directors then still in
office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose
election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a
majority thereof; or

                  (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or
consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or
consolidation (A) which would result in all or a portion of the voting
securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to
represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power
of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation or (B) by which the corporate
existence of the Company is not affected and following which the Company's chief
executive officer and directors retain their positions with the Company (and
constitute at least a majority of the Board); or

                  (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of
complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition
by the Company of all or substantially all the Company's assets, other than a
sale to an Exempt Person.

         (d) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         (e) "COMMITTEE" means the Compensation Committee of the Board, which
shall consist solely of two or more members of the Board.

         (f) "COMMON STOCK" means the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of
the Company, and any other shares into which such stock may be changed by reason
of a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or any other change
in the corporate structure or capital stock of the Company.

         (g) "COMPETITION" is deemed to occur if a person whose employment with
the Company or its Subsidiaries has terminated obtains a position as a full-time
or part-time employee of, as a member of the board of directors of, or as a
consultant or advisor with or to, or acquires an ownership interest in excess of
5% of, a corporation, partnership, firm or other entity that engages in any of
the businesses of the Company or any Subsidiary with which the person was
involved in a management role at any time during his or her last five years of
employment with or other service for the Company or any Subsidiaries.

         (h) "DISABILITY" means a disability that would entitle an eligible
participant to payment of monthly disability payments under any Company
disability plan or as otherwise determined by the Committee.

         (i) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.


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         (j) "EXEMPT PERSON" means (i) Jerry Zucker, James G. Boyd, The
InterTech Group, Golder, Thoma, Cressey Fund III Limited Partnership, Golder,
Thoma, Cressey, Rauner, Inc., or any of their respective affiliates, (ii) any
person, entity or group under the control of any party included in clause (i),
or (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or a trustee or other
administrator or fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of
the Company.

         (k) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" of a share of Common Stock of the Company
means, as of the date in question, the officially-quoted closing selling price
of the stock (or if no selling price is quoted, the bid price) on the principal
securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading
(including for this purpose the Nasdaq National Market) (the "Market") for the
applicable trading day or, if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted in
the Market, the Fair Market Value shall be the fair value of the Common Stock
determined in good faith by the Board; provided, however, that when shares
received upon exercise of an option are immediately sold in the open market, the
net sale price received may be used to determine the Fair Market Value of any
shares used to pay the exercise price or applicable withholding taxes and to
compute the withholding taxes.

         (l) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an option conforming to the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code and any successor thereto.

         (m) "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" has the meaning given to such term in Rule
16b-3 under the Exchange Act and any successor thereto.

         (n) "NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION" means any stock option other than an
Incentive Stock Option.

         (o) "OTHER COMPANY SECURITIES" mean securities of the Company other
than Common Stock, which may include, without limitation, unbundled stock units
or components thereof, debentures, preferred stock, warrants and securities
convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or other property.

         (p) "RETIREMENT" under this Plan means termination of one's employment
when an employee's combined age and years of service with the Company or its
Subsidiaries equal 70.

         (q) "SUBSIDIARY" means a corporation or other entity of which
outstanding shares or ownership interests representing 50% or more of the
combined voting power of such corporation or other entity entitled to elect the
management thereof, or such lesser percentage as may be approved by the
Committee, are owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

3. ADMINISTRATION.

         The Plan shall be administered by the Committee; provided that the
Board may, in its discretion, at any time and from time to time, resolve to
administer the Plan, in which case the term "Committee" shall be deemed to mean
the Board for all purposes herein. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
Committee shall be authorized to (i) select persons to participate in the


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Plan, (ii) determine the form and substance of grants made under the Plan to
each participant, and the conditions and restrictions, if any, subject to which
such grants will be made, (iii) certify that the conditions and restrictions
applicable to any grant have been met, (iv) modify the terms of grants made
under the Plan, (v) interpret the Plan and grants made thereunder, (vi) make any
adjustments necessary or desirable in connection with grants made under the Plan
to eligible participants located outside the United States and (vii) adopt,
amend, or rescind such rules and regulations, and make such other
determinations, for carrying out the Plan as it may deem appropriate. Decisions
of the Committee on all matters relating to the Plan shall be in the Committee's
sole discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on all parties. The
validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations
relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with applicable federal
and state laws and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. No member
of the Committee and no officer of the Company shall be liable for any action
taken or omitted to be taken by such member, by any other member of the
Committee or by any officer of the Company in connection with the performance of
duties under the Plan, except for such person's own willful misconduct or as
expressly provided by statute.

         The expenses of the Plan shall be borne by the Company. The Plan shall
not be required to establish any special or separate fund or make any other
segregation of assets to assume the payment of any award under the Plan, and
rights to the payment of such awards shall be no greater than the rights of the
Company's general creditors.

4. SHARES AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN.

         Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 12, an aggregate of
1,500,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Shares") may be issued pursuant to the
Plan. Such Shares may be in whole or in part authorized and unissued or held by
the Company as treasury shares. If any grant under the Plan expires or
terminates unexercised, becomes unexercisable or is forfeited, then such
unpurchased or forfeited Shares shall thereafter be available for further grants
under the Plan.

         Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this
Section 4 or the generality of the provisions of Sections 3, 6 or 14 or any
other section of this Plan, the Committee may, at any time or from time to time,
and on such terms and conditions (that are consistent with and not in
contravention of the other provisions of this Plan) as the Committee may, in its
sole discretion, determine, enter into agreements (or take other actions with
respect to the options) for new options containing terms (including exercise
prices) more (or less) favorable than the outstanding options.


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5. PARTICIPATION.

         Participation in the Plan shall be limited to those directors
(including Non-Employee Directors), officers (including non-employee officers)
and employees of, or to whom an offer of employment has been extended by, the
Company or its Subsidiaries selected by the Committee (including participants
located outside the United States). Nothing in the Plan or in any grant
thereunder shall confer any right on a participant to continue in the employ as
a director or officer of or in the performance of services for the Company or
shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate the
employment or performance of services or to reduce the compensation or
responsibilities of a participant at any time. By accepting any award under the
Plan, each participant and each person claiming under or through him or her
shall be conclusively deemed to have indicated his or her acceptance and
ratification of, and consent to, any action taken under the Plan by the Company,
the Board or the Committee.

         Incentive Stock Options or Non-qualified Stock Options may be granted
to such persons and for such number of Shares as the Committee shall determine
(such individuals to whom grants are made being sometimes herein called
"optionees" or "grantees," as the case may be). Determinations made by the
Committee under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among
eligible individuals under the Plan, whether or not such individuals are
similarly situated. A grant of any type made hereunder in any one year to an
eligible participant shall neither guarantee nor preclude a further grant of
that or any other type to such participant in that year or subsequent years.

6. INCENTIVE AND NON-QUALIFIED OPTIONS.

         The Committee may from time to time grant to eligible participants
Incentive Stock Options, Non-qualified Stock Options, or any combination
thereof; provided that the Committee may grant Incentive Stock Options only to
eligible employees of the Company or its subsidiaries (as defined for this
purpose in Section 424(f) of the Code or any successor thereto). In any one
calendar year, the Committee shall not grant to any one participant options to
purchase a number of shares of Common Stock in excess of 10% of the total number
of Shares authorized under the Plan pursuant to Section 4. The options granted
shall take such form as the Committee shall determine, subject to the following
terms and conditions.

         It is the Company's intent that Non-qualified Stock Options granted
under the Plan not be classified as Incentive Stock Options, that Incentive
Stock Options be consistent with and contain or be deemed to contain all
provisions required under Section 422 of the Code and any successor thereto, and
that any ambiguities in construction be interpreted in order to effectuate such
intent. If an Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan does not qualify as
such for any reason, then to the extent of such non-qualification, the stock
option represented thereby shall be regarded as a Non-qualified Stock Option
duly granted under the Plan, provided that such stock option otherwise meets the
Plan's requirements for Non-qualified Stock Options.

         (a) PRICE. The price per Share deliverable upon the exercise of each
option ("exercise price") shall be established by the Committee, except that in
the case of the grant of any


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Incentive Stock Option, the exercise price may not be less than 100% of the Fair
Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of grant of the option,
and in the case of the grant of any Incentive Stock Option to an employee who,
at the time of the grant, owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power
of all classes of stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the exercise
price may not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
Stock as of the date of grant of the option, in each case unless otherwise
permitted by Section 422 of the Code or any successor thereto.

         (b) PAYMENT. Options may be exercised, in whole or in part, upon
payment of the exercise price of the Shares to be acquired. Unless otherwise
determined by the Committee, payment shall be made (i) in cash (including check,
bank draft, money order or wire transfer of immediately available funds), and/or
(ii) by simultaneous sale through a broker reasonably acceptable to the
Committee of Shares acquired on exercise, as permitted under Regulation T of the
Federal Reserve Board.

         (c) TERMS OF OPTIONS. The term during which each option may be
exercised shall be determined by the Committee, but if required by the Code and
except as otherwise provided herein, no option shall be exercisable in whole or
in part more than ten years from the date it is granted, and no Incentive Stock
Option granted to an employee who at the time of the grant owns more than 10% of
the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries shall be exercisable more than five years from the date it is
granted. All rights to purchase Shares pursuant to an option shall, unless
sooner terminated, expire at the date designated by the Committee. The Committee
shall determine the date on which each option shall become exercisable and may
provide that an option shall become exercisable in installments. The Shares
constituting each installment may be purchased in whole or in part at any time
after such installment becomes exercisable, subject to such minimum exercise
requirements as may be designated by the Committee. Prior to the exercise of an
option and delivery of the Shares represented thereby, the optionee shall have
no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares covered by such
outstanding option (including any dividend or voting rights).

         (d) LIMITATIONS ON GRANTS. If required by the Code, the aggregate Fair
Market Value (determined as of the grant date) of Shares for which an Incentive
Stock Option is exercisable for the first time during any calendar year under
all equity incentive plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined in
Section 422 of the Code or any successor thereto) may not exceed $100,000.

         (e) TERMINATION; FORFEITURE.

                  (i) DEATH OR DISABILITY. If a participant ceases to be a
director, officer or employee of the Company and any Subsidiary due to death or
Disability, all of the participant's options shall become fully vested and
exercisable and shall remain so for a period of 180 days from the date of such
death or Disability, but in no event after the expiration date of the options;
provided that the participant does not engage in Competition during such 180-day
period unless he or she received written consent to do so from the Board or the
Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Disability giving rise to the
termination of employment is not within the meaning of Section


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22(e)(3) of the Code or any successor thereto, Incentive Stock Options not
exercised by such participant within 90 days after the date of termination of
employment will cease to qualify as Incentive Stock Options and will be treated
as Non-qualified Stock Options under the Plan if required to be so treated under
the Code.

                  (ii) RETIREMENT. If a participant ceases to be a director,
officer or employee of the Company and any Subsidiary upon the occurrence of his
or her Retirement, (A) all of the participant's options that were exercisable on
the date of Retirement shall remain exercisable for, and shall otherwise
terminate at the end of, a period of three years after the date of Retirement,
but in no event after the expiration date of the options; provided that the
participant does not engage in Competition during such three year period unless
he or she receives written consent to do so from the Board or the Committee, and
(B) all of the participant's options that were not exercisable on the date of
Retirement may continue to vest and become exercisable for up to three years
from the date of Retirement, at which time all unexercised portions will be
forfeited. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Incentive Stock Options not exercised
by such participant within 90 days after Retirement will cease to qualify as
Incentive Stock Options and will be treated as Non-qualified Stock Options under
the Plan if required to be so treated under the Code.

                  (iii) DISCHARGE FOR CAUSE; FAILURE TO BEGIN SERVICE. If a
participant ceases to be a director, officer or employee of the Company or a
Subsidiary due to Cause, or if a participant does not become a director, officer
or employee of, or does not begin performing other services for, the Company or
a Subsidiary for any reason, all of the participant's options shall expire and
be forfeited immediately upon such cessation or non-commencement, whether or not
then exercisable.

                  (iv) OTHER TERMINATION. Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee, if a participant ceases to be a director, officer or employee of the
Company or a Subsidiary for any reason other than death, Disability, Retirement
or Cause, (A) all of the participant's options that were exercisable on the date
of such cessation shall remain exercisable for, and shall otherwise terminate at
the end of, a period of 30 days after the date of such cessation, but in no
event after the expiration date of the options; provided that the participant
does not engage in Competition during such 30-day period unless he or she
receives written consent to do so from the Board or the Committee, and (B) all
of the participant's options that were not exercisable on the date of such
cessation shall be forfeited immediately upon such cessation.

                  (v) CHANGE IN CONTROL. If there is a Change in Control of the
Company and a participant is terminated from being a director, officer or
employee of, the Company or a subsidiary within one year after such Change in
Control, all of the participant's options shall become fully vested and
exercisable upon such termination and shall remain so for up to one year after
the date of termination, but in no event after the expiration date of the
options. In addition, the Compensation Committee shall have the authority to
grant options that become fully vested and exercisable automatically upon a
Change in Control, whether or not the grantee is subsequently terminated.

         (f) FORFEITURE. If a participant exercises any of his or her options
and, within one year thereafter, either (i) is terminated from the Company or a
Subsidiary for any of the reasons


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specified in the definition of "Cause" set forth in Section 2(b)(i), (ii) or
(iv), or (ii) engages in Competition without having received written consent to
do so from the Board or the Committee, then the participant may, in the
discretion of the Committee, be required to pay the Company the gain represented
by the difference between the aggregate selling price of the Shares acquired
upon the options' exercise (or, if the Shares were not then sold, their
aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise) and the aggregate exercise
price of the options exercised (the "OPTION GAIN"), without regard to any
subsequent increase or decrease in the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock. In
addition, the Company may, in its discretion, deduct from any payment of any
kind (including salary or bonus) otherwise due to any such participant an amount
equal to the Option Gain.


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7. WITHHOLDING TAXES.

         The Company may require, as a condition to any grant or exercise under
the Plan or to the delivery of certificates for Shares issued hereunder, that
the grantee make provision for the payment to the Company of federal, state or
local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any grant
or delivery of Shares. The Company, to the extent permitted or required by law,
shall have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind (including salary or
bonus) otherwise due to a grantee, an amount equal to any federal, state or
local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any grant
or delivery of Shares under the Plan.

8. WRITTEN AGREEMENT; VESTING.

         Each employee to whom a grant is made under the Plan shall enter into a
written agreement with the Company that shall contain such provisions, including
without limitation vesting requirements, consistent with the provisions of the
Plan, as may be approved by the Committee. Unless the Committee determines
otherwise and except as otherwise provided in Section 6 in connection with a
Change of Control or certain occurrences of termination, no grant under this
Plan may be exercised, and no restrictions relating thereto may lapse, within
six months of the date such grant is made.

9. TRANSFERABILITY.

         Unless the Committee determines otherwise, no option granted under the
Plan shall be transferable by a participant other than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, an option
may be exercised only by the optionee or grantee thereof; by his or her executor
or administrator or any person to whom the Option is transferred by will or the
laws of descent and distribution; or by the guardian or legal representative of
any of the foregoing; provided that Incentive Stock Options may be exercised by
any Family Member, guardian or legal representative only if permitted by the
Code and any regulations thereunder. All provisions of this Plan shall in any
event continue to apply to any option granted under the Plan and transferred as
permitted by this Section 9, and any transferee of any such option shall be
bound by all provisions of this Plan as and to the same extent as the applicable
original grantee.

10. LISTING, REGISTRATION AND QUALIFICATION.

         If the Committee determines that the listing, registration or
qualification upon any securities exchange or under any law of Shares subject to
any option is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with,
the granting of same or the issue or purchase of Shares thereunder, no such
option may be exercised in whole or in part, and no Shares may be issued, unless
such listing, registration or qualification is effected free of any conditions
not acceptable to the Committee.


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11. TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEE.

         The transfer of an employee from the Company to a Subsidiary, from a
Subsidiary to the Company, or from one Subsidiary to another shall not be
considered a termination of employment; nor shall it be considered a termination
of employment if an employee is placed on military or sick leave or such other
leave of absence which is considered by the Committee as continuing intact the
employment relationship.

12. ADJUSTMENTS.

         In the event of a reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock
dividend, combination of shares, merger, consolidation, distribution of assets,
or any other change in the corporate structure or shares of the Company, the
Committee shall make such adjustment as it deems appropriate in the number and
kind of Shares or other property available for issuance under the Plan
(including, without limitation, the total number of Shares available for
issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4), in the number and kind of
options and in the exercise price of outstanding options. Any such adjustment
shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan. In the
event of any merger, consolidation or other reorganization in which the Company
is not the surviving or continuing corporation or in which a Change in Control
is to occur, all of the Company's obligations regarding options that were
granted hereunder and that are outstanding on the date of such event shall, on
such terms as may be approved by the Committee prior to such event, be assumed
by the surviving or continuing corporation or canceled in exchange for property
(including cash).

         Without limitation of the foregoing, in connection with any transaction
of the type specified by clause (iii) of the definition of a Change in Control
in Section 2(c), the Committee may, in its discretion, (i) cancel any or all
outstanding options under the Plan in consideration for payment to the holders
thereof of an amount equal to the portion of the consideration that would have
been payable to such holders pursuant to such transaction if their options had
been fully exercised immediately prior to such transaction, less the aggregate
exercise price that would have been payable therefore, or (ii) if the amount
that would have been payable to the option holders pursuant to such transaction
if their options had been fully exercised immediately prior thereto would be
equal to or less than the aggregate exercise price that would have been payable
therefore, cancel any or all such options for no consideration or payment of any
kind. Payment of any amount payable pursuant to the preceding sentence may be
made in cash or, in the event that the consideration to be received in such
transaction includes securities or other property, in cash and/or securities or
other property in the Committee's discretion.

13. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

         The Board of Directors or the Committee, without approval of the
stockholders, may amend or terminate the Plan, except that no amendment shall
become effective without prior approval of the stockholders of the Company if
stockholder approval would be required by applicable law or regulations,
including if required for continued compliance with the performance-based
compensation exception of Section 162(m) of the Code or any successor thereto,
under the


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provisions of Section 422 of the Code or any successor thereto, or by any
listing requirement of the principal stock exchange on which the Common Stock is
then listed.

14. AMENDMENT OR SUBSTITUTION OF AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN.

         The terms of any outstanding award under the Plan may be amended from
time to time by the Committee in its discretion in any manner that it deems
appropriate (including, but not limited to, acceleration of the date of exercise
of any award and/or payments thereunder); provided that, except as otherwise
provided in Section 12, no such amendment shall adversely affect in a material
manner any right of a participant under the award without his or her written
consent. The Committee may, in its discretion, permit holders of awards under
the Plan to surrender outstanding awards in order to exercise or realize rights
under other awards, or in exchange for the grant of new awards, or require
holders of awards to surrender outstanding awards as a condition precedent to
the grant of new awards under the Plan.

15. COMMENCEMENT DATE; TERMINATION DATE.

         The date of commencement of the Plan shall be April 1, 2001, subject to
approval by the shareholders of the Company.

         Unless previously terminated upon the adoption of a resolution of the
Board terminating the Plan, the Plan shall terminate at the close of business on
April 1, 2011. No termination of the Plan shall materially and adversely affect
any of the rights or obligations of any person, without his or her written
consent, under any grant of options or other incentives theretofore granted
under the Plan.

16. SEVERABILITY.

         Whenever possible, each provision of the Plan shall be interpreted in
such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any
provision of the Plan is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable
law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition
or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of the Plan.

17. GOVERNING LAW.

         The Plan shall be governed by the corporate laws of the State of
Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law provisions that might
otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan to the substantive
law of another jurisdiction.


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