I would constrain cloth points to a locator...here is an excerpt from the Maya 3 manuals that come with the program (you should really check them out first)...
1 Select Create > Create Locator or create the object to which you want to constrain the cloth.
2 Position the locator or object near your cloth where you want to use the Transform Constraint. Keep it selected.
The distance you place the locator or object from the cloth vertices will be maintained by the constraint during the simulation.
3 If you are constraining cloth points, click the right mouse button over the cloth mesh and select Vertex. Shift-Ctrl-pick the vertex points you want to constrain.
or
If you are constraining a panel curve, Shift-Ctrl-pick the curve you want to constrain.
When you move the locator or object, these vertex points or the curve will move with it exactly during the simulation (this includes rotating and scaling the locator).
4 With the vertex points and the locator or object transform selected, choose Constraints > Transform.
The points do not snap to the constraint; they remain at a fixed distance from the target and at a fixed orientation relative to the target.
5 Now you can animate the locator and the vertex points will move with it.
Hope this helps...remember...the Maya manuals are probably the best for any 3d app...I would check there first.