adding sleeping pad straps

I'd like to sew some sleeping pad straps to the bottom of my GoLite Pinnacle. I've been sewing (by hand, no machines) most of my life, but never gear. A few questions:

What needle/thread should I use? (and where can I buy?)

Should I sew around/into a seam, or just thru the fabric?

Thanks!

I responded to this same post on Whiteblaze.