I love the quilt! It is beautiful. Your MIL obviously took a great deal of time and a lot of effort to make it, especially since it was her first. She must have enjoyed the work and felt proud of it while doing it. The stitches add to its uniqueness.
Like every one else, I would not change them. I would simply quilt it. The final product would be something anyone would be proud of owning.
Whatever you do, it will be a beautiful quilt in the end.
Connie