I know that many people use flocking to represent carpet, but isn't easy to it in any local hobby stores and it's overpriced.
1 - has anyone made their own?
2 - are there substitutes?

interested in an answer to this question.

I used felt one time to represent carpet in a 1/25 Kenworth K100 Aerodyne back in the late 1980s. That would probably still work.

Jim

I sometimes use embossing powder. Comes in all kinds of colors or can be painted to your desire. Applied the same way as you would flocking.

OK, I found a source for pretty good carpeting for 1/24 ish scale and larger. Bought some and it looks good. Glue it on with white glue should work. Name of the company is Hoppin Hydros, and the specialty is low rider accessories but they have a number of packs of this carpeting in various colors (some really wild!). They are in Cerritos, Ca. and have a good website. Also frequently on evilBay.

A thin layer of Woodland Scenics grass glued down with Elmer's and then carefully painted any color you wish.