I do both stitches in handquilting. I use perle cotton balls, crochet thread in 10 wt., 12wt. Sulky cotton thread, and occasionally Sashiko thread if I can find it.
I have only used heavy threads like upholstery thread for sewing on buttons. I still have a spool of black surgical thread I use occasionally for coat buttons, too! That stuff is sturdy, somewhat stiff, glazed, and likely to be around until the end of time! But I'd never use it or upholstery/rug/leather/other similar threads for handquilting because I'd worry about the stitches eventually cutting my fabric.
Wax your cotton threads with bees wax from Joanns and pinch the end of the thread to get it thru the needle. I look for needles with a larger eye, not quilting betweens usually.
Jan in VA