Jessica, let me expand on some of the previous posts

-----------
let me start by answering your questions:

How are hard are these plans for beginners to figure out?

if you are patient and reasonably adept with tools and know how to follow instructions. It is not really hard at all for beginners to build either a stitch and glue or cedar strip kayak

After
: buying the plans how much generally does the rest of the wood and supplies
: usually cost?

this really depends on where you buy and how resourcefull you are. I have heard of builders completing a stripper for anywhere from $500 t0 $800. If you look at some of the kit prices that gives you and indication. If you cut your own strips and buy the glass and epoxy directly from suppliers like Raka you save more than you would pay for a kit

How much time does it take to build a wooden kayak?

they say that a stitch and glue should take from 75 to 100 hours and a cedar strip at least 300 hours. But that is not continuous working time because you need to leave time for the epoxy to set etc. Realistically you should probably add about one third to those times.

The
: patterns on the boats that I have seen, are those included in the plans
: and if not how would I go about that?

no they are not included. Most people come up with their own designs. Nick Shades book (see reference elsewhere on this site) gives some good direction on how to come up with the designs

--------------------------

I have attached some of the direct links below which should point you to some of the instructions referenced by the others

Making Strip Kayaks
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/Building/StripBuilt/index.html

Kayak Building reports
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/Building/Building.html

The One Ocean Kayaks Site- Kayak Workshop
http://www.oneoceankayaks.com/Shop.htm

But it should be emphasized again that buying one or more of the books or manuals (such as those which you can buy from One Ocean) is a significant help for giving you and idea both how to build a boat and how hard it us.

the most important point to add is that it is really fun and can be quite addictive (I am personally building my third boat with the fourth one already in mind). It is a real joy to paddle a boat you have built yourself

give it a try and good luck (not that you will probably need it..)