I would do a meander fairly small and it will help with the puckers. You can't quilt the puckers out, but I agree with everyone else, your MIL wants something quilted from you and I think I would LA it. She will love it and be so proud ot it.

I'm no help, but it sure is pretty! Remember, done is better than perfect!

For the first and only quilt it looks quite good. Quilting either way and washing will hide some of the wonky parts.

Use your long arm. I am the "QUEEN" of making wonky quilts. I send them to my LQS and the owner turns them into beauties. Your MIL will not reprimand your attempts, after all, she knows what that quilt looks like, already.

I few things I have done with wonky older quilts I have had to finish for clients: 1.Using thick batting will help hide the poofs & puckers. 2. Sewing on a wide outer border allows you to stretch or lightly tuck/gather the original quilt and helps square it up and gives you trimming room. 3. Load it up and quilt it E2E with a very open & swirly design. You can't make it perfect but you can make it finished. Experience is that they love that it is finished and won't see the flaws unless you don't point them out. Good luck.

ps - use pink thread and it will help cover/distract from flaws too.

That is what I was thinking.

It is a beautiful quilt top and I say just do the best you can & pray while you are doing it.

I was thinking this...something to give an illusion BUT not take away from her pattern...it is a lovely quilt..and was probably made mixing cotton and poly/cotton fabrics...this was popular in the 70's-80's as they did not know any better..and when the cotton shrank, the poly blend did not and thus you have waving seams!

good luck...I would still throw it on the LA...will be easier to work out!

My vote---Hand quilt with a poly batt and outline about 1/4" from the seam with something pretty inside the square if you think it needs it. With that being dark, it may not show though. Maybe need an echo stitch if you think there is too much open area in the triangles. One of the advantages of hand quilting is that you can maneuver the fabric to take out the wobbles and puckers! Such a pretty quilt top that the quilting will only enhance. A treasured piece with two generations having made it!!