With gathered stitches you can create star-like shapes in your garment. Knit five stitches together. Leave them on the left needle, do a yarnover, and then knit the same five stitches together again, i.e. right needle goes through the five loops again, wraps yarn and pulls it through the loops. Another yarnover and knit the same 5 stitches again. Then you can slip the stitches. Done!

You do not decrease or increase the number of stitches and at the same time knit stitches together. This creates a star-shaped pattern around the gathered stitches in the centre. It is possible to do this with 7 stitches as well, but I wouldn't advise it.