With All Saints Day right around the corner, the hot topic in our house is always the same: Who are you going to be? I love the excitement, but I also know the pressure of pulling together a recognizable saint costume with limited sewing skills. Here’s the good news: homemade is the whole charm of All Saints Day, and a T-shirt plus one great prop really is enough.

In This Guide

Tap any section below to jump straight to it. ↓

• No-Sew Basics: What You Need

• Saints Who Wore Habits

• Saints Who Wore Armor

• Saints Who Wore Crowns

• Toddler and Baby Saint Costumes

• Last-Minute Saint Costumes

• Saint Prop Cheat Sheet

• Costume Parade Tips

These costumes aren’t meant to be perfect. They’re meant to honor the saints and be fun! Let your kids lead the brainstorming—mine often have better ideas than I do.

No-Sew Basics: What You Need for Any Saint Costume

• Large adult T-shirts — The most versatile base for a tunic or habit. If there’s a graphic, turn it inside out.

• Sheets, tablecloths, old curtains, or drop cloths — Great for older kids, and perfect for cloaks, capes, veils, and vestments. Thrift stores often have inexpensive fabric this time of year.

• Elastic-waist skirts — Cut a slit from hem to waistband and you have an instant cape. No hemming required!

• Rope, cord, or twine — A cincture finishes almost any religious habit and lets you hike up extra length.

• Safety pins, hair ties, and a hot glue gun — Gather, pin, and tie; these costumes only need to last a day.

• Costumes you already own — Princess dresses, play armor, animal costumes, and firefighter gear can all become saints (or their companions).

• Cardboard, tape, and craft supplies — For shields, crosses, crowns, and other props.

• Washable face paint (if you’re feeling adventurous) — For beards and small details.

Saints Who Wore Habits

If you have fabric in black, brown, or white, you can make most religious habits. The prop tells everyone which saint you are.

Girls

• St. Thérèse of Lisieux — Brown T-shirt habit, a tan or cream cape, a white T-shirt worn around the face as a wimple, and a black pillowcase pinned on as the veil. Carry a bouquet of roses.

• St. Teresa of Ávila — The same Carmelite habit as St. Thérèse, but carry a book and a quill (she was a great writer and is a Doctor of the Church).

• St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) — A white sheet with blue painter’s tape stripes along the edge, draped and pinned like a sari. Add a simple crucifix pinned at the shoulder and a rosary.

• St. Catherine of Siena — Dominican style: white T-shirt or sheet with a black veil and cape. Carry a lily.

• St. Rose of Lima — White habit with a black veil, topped with a crown of roses.

• St. Scholastica — A black Benedictine habit, with a paper dove (or a storm cloud!) as her prop.

Boys

• St. Francis of Assisi — Brown T-shirt or robe with a rope belt and a stuffed bird or wolf.

• St. Dominic — White T-shirt tunic, a black cape pinned at the front, a cord belt, and a big rosary.

• St. Benedict — Black habit (a hoodie underneath makes a great hood), a cord belt, and a printed St. Benedict medal taped to the chest. A toy crow or a book labeled “The Rule” finishes the look.

• St. Martin de Porres — White tunic with a black cape (he was a Dominican brother), carrying a broom. Add a stuffed mouse or cat—he loved animals and cared for the sick and poor.

• St. Patrick — White T-shirt tunic, a green cloak, a paper bishop’s miter, and a cardboard shamrock.

Saints Who Wore Armor

Always a kid favorite, and extra easy if you already have play armor. Dollar stores often carry it this time of year, or you can find options here.

• St. Michael the Archangel — A white T-shirt under a breastplate, plus wings and a sword. (He’s the patron of police officers, so a printed police emblem is a fun touch.)

• St. Joan of Arc — Play armor, or a gray T-shirt over the hair as “chainmail” under a white or blue T-shirt marked with a fleur-de-lis. Carry a banner.

• St. George — A knight in armor, with a cross on his shield. A younger sibling dressed as the dragon from his famous legend makes the perfect prop.

• St. Martin of Tours — A Roman soldier in armor with a red cape…or half of one! He famously cut his cloak in two to share with a poor man. 😉

• St. Florian — The patron of firefighters. My son combined a Roman soldier and a firefighter: breastplate, sword, firefighter hat, and a small bucket (which doubles as a treat collector!).

Saints Who Wore Crowns

Got princess dresses in the dress-up bin? That’s all you need for these royal saints.

• St. Elizabeth of Hungary — A royal dress and crown with a basket of bread; she was known for her generosity to the poor.

• St. Elizabeth of Portugal — Queen of Portugal, also known for caring for the poor. A crown and a lap full of roses.

• St. Margaret of Scotland — Queen of Scotland, usually shown with a book.

Toddler and Baby Saint Costumes

For the littlest saints, choose something comfortable that works with clothes they already wear.

• Our Lady — A white outfit with a light blue blanket or scarf as a veil.

• St. Joseph — A brown or tan tunic and a toy tool belt.

• St. Francis — A brown sleeper or hoodie with a stuffed animal.

• A lamb for St. Agnes — Dress baby as a lamb and let an older sister be St. Agnes in a white dress.

• A dragon for St. George — Any green or dinosaur costume will do!

Last-Minute Saint Costumes

Party in an hour? These need almost nothing:

• St. Lucy — White dress or nightgown, red ribbon sash, and a paper crown with paper “candles.”

• St. Isidore the Farmer — Jeans, plaid shirt, straw hat, and a toy shovel.

• St. Cecilia — Any flowing dress plus a toy instrument; she’s the patron of musicians.

• St. Peter — A robe, a toy fishing net, and two paper keys.

• St. Nicholas — A red robe, a paper bishop’s miter, a staff, and a little bag of chocolate coins.

Saint Prop Cheat Sheet

Props are the secret ingredient. They connect a general costume to a specific saint. Choose props that can be pinned or worn when possible so kids have free hands for games and snacks.

• St. Agnes — Stuffed lamb, white dress

• St. Brigid of Ireland — Shawl and a small cross woven from paper strips or reeds

• St. Clare of Assisi — Brown habit and a cardboard monstrance

• St. John the Baptist — Brown “camel hair” tunic, wild hair, plastic bugs (locusts!), and a staff

• St. Juan Diego — A tilma (shawl) with an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and paper roses

• St. Kateri Tekakwitha — Two braids, lilies, and a simple wooden cross

• St. Rita of Cascia — Black habit, a crucifix, and roses

• St. Zita — An apron, simple dress, and a basket of bread

Tip: For hard-to-find props (anchors, keys, chalices, swords), print a simple outline, trace it onto cardboard, and cut it out.

Costume Parade Tips

• Play “Guess Who?” Each child gives three clues (“I loved animals. I lived in Italy. I made the first Nativity scene.”) and everyone guesses.

• Practice one sentence. Shy kids can simply say, “I am St. ___, and I’m the patron of ___.”

• End with a litany. Name each costumed saint and have everyone answer, “Pray for us!”

• Take a group photo to see your little “communion of saints” together.

Saint Costume FAQ

What should kids dress up as for All Saints Day?
Kids can dress as any saint—their name saint, a patron saint, or a favorite from a story. Our Lady and the archangels (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael) are popular choices too.

How do you make a saint costume without sewing?
Use an oversized T-shirt or sheet as a tunic, tie it with rope, pin on a cape or veil with safety pins, and add one identifying prop. Hot glue works for anything that needs a stronger hold.

What are the easiest saint costumes for boys and girls?
For boys: St. Francis (brown robe and a stuffed animal), St. Patrick (green cloak and shamrock), or St. George (armor and a dragon). For girls: St. Thérèse (brown habit and roses), St. Lucy (white dress and candle crown), or St. Joan of Arc (play armor).

Can kids wear a saint costume for Halloween?
Absolutely. Halloween is All Hallows’ Eve, the night before All Saints Day, so a saint costume is a beautiful way to remember what the day is really about.

Keep the Celebration Going

• All Saints Day for Kids: What It Is & How to Celebrate — meaning, Mass details for 2026, traditions, and a simple party plan.

• All Saints Day Crafts & Activities for Kids — easy saint crafts to make before the party.

• 5 Benefits of Dramatic Play for Preschoolers — why dress-up matters so much for little ones.

• November Feast Days — plan the rest of the month.

Let’s keep finding small, meaningful ways to bring our faith into family life—one costume, one craft, and one celebration at a time. All you holy men and women, pray for us!